Bird Flu Found In Mercer County Live Market: NJDA

MERCER COUNTY, NJ – Confirmed cases of bird flu were reported from a market in Mercer County, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) said.

The United States Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture made the announcement Friday evening.

Confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) were also reported from two Hudson County markets.

“The risk of HPAI to the general public remains low and no live poultry were sold to the public that may have been infected. HPAI is highly contagious and often fatal in domestic poultry species,” the NJDA said.

The live bird market cases were identified through test samples from domestic poultry at the Mercer County premises that were submitted and tested at the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory as part of routine surveillance.

Samples collected during inspections on Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, detected HPAI. Confirmatory testing is underway at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory.

According to the NJDA, the live bird markets are quarantined and will not receive new poultry until the quarantine is lifted after a thorough cleaning and disinfection to eliminate the virus within the facility.

After the cleaning and disinfection, the markets will remain temporarily closed for a prescribed period before they are restocked.

“The live bird market operators have been fully compliant with our requests and have taken the necessary steps in efforts to prevent avian influenza in their businesses,” NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn said. “This shows how prevalent this disease is. We urge all poultry and bird owners to take full precautions by following the necessary biosecurity recommendations.”

People working in the markets are being assessed for exposures and will be monitored for symptoms by the local health department and New Jersey Department of Health.

Poultry owners, industry workers, and the general public are reminded to take precautionary measures to ensure the maintenance of a healthy flock.

HPAI poses a low risk to the general public and human infections have most often occurred after close or lengthy unprotected contact (such as not wearing gloves, respiratory protection, or eye protections) with infected birds or dairy cattle, or with places that the infected birds or animals have touched.

No instances of sustained human-to-human transmission have been observed. Properly cooked poultry and eggs to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit are also considered safe to eat.

Individuals who have had close, unprotected contact with infected birds should monitor themselves for symptoms for 10 days following their last exposure. Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, eye redness or irritation, headaches, muscle or body aches, and diarrhea.

If symptoms develop, individuals should seek healthcare and notify their healthcare provider of the potential exposure.

Signs of HPAI in poultry can include:

• Sudden death
• Decrease in feed or water consumption
• Respiratory signs such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge
• Swelling around the eyes
• Open-mouth breathing
• Darkening of the comb/wattles
• Reddening of the shanks or feet
• Decreased egg production
• Lethargy

If you suspect HPAI in livestock, please alert the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.

If you suspect HPAI in a human, contact the local health department. Local health department information can be found at www.localhealth.nj.gov.

For additional information about the disease and outreach materials, visit:

• https://www.nj.gov/H5N1/

• https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/

• https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/ai

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