Dead Bald Eagle Presumed Positive Of Bird Flu In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ – A dead bald eagle has tested positive for possible bird flu in Princeton, local health officials said. The bird was found near Prospect Avenue and Lake Carnegie.

“As of February 10, 2025, there has been one presumed positive case of H5N1 in Princeton,” health officials said in a press release.

“The eagle had been submitted for testing on Dec. 4, 2024, and was later identified as a presumptive positive case by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.”

The bird will now undergo confirmatory testing at a federal infectious disease surveillance laboratory.

At this time, there are no known exposures to humans or pets in Princeton, officials said.

The Princeton Health Department is urging residents and poultry owners to take precautions following a recent outbreak of H5N1, or avian influenza.

H5N1 is a highly contagious airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among birds through nasal and eye secretions, and manure.

The New Jersey Department of Health continues to respond to the ongoing outbreak of the virus across the state.

Avian influenza mainly affects poultry (chickens, ducks, and turkeys), along with some wild bird species (ducks, geese, shorebirds, and raptors).

Dogs and cats who encounter infected birds may also be susceptible. The first feline case of the bird flu in New Jersey has been confirmed in a feral cat in Hunterdon County, according to the NJ Department of Health on Friday.

However, the transmission risk to humans is relatively low.

The Princeton Health Department is asking residents to report deaths of wild or domestic birds, especially large groups of them, to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection hotline at 1-877-WARNDEP (877-927-6337).

Those who work directly with poultry or are in close contact with dairy farms or poultry operations should follow biosecurity practices to protect their flocks and themselves.

The Princeton Health Department recommends several important biosecurity measures to minimize the spread of avian influenza.

Here are some recommendations:

• Avoid contact with wild birds, especially ducks and geese. Observe them from a distance.
• Do not touch sick or dead wild or domestic birds. Report any sick or dead wild birds to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1-877-WARNDEP (877-927- 6337).
• Report dead or sick domestic birds or livestock to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture at 609-671-6400 or by emailing state.veterinarian@ag.nj.gov.
• Only consume pasteurized milk, and cook poultry, eggs, and beef to the appropriate temperature, per USDA Safe Internal Temperature chart.
• Backyard poultry owners should keep birds indoors or in fully enclosed areas away from wild birds and their waste. Wash and sanitize hands before and after handling birds. Report any suspected avian flu to the Department of Agriculture immediately.
• Keep pets, especially dogs and cats, away from areas with lots of geese or their waste. Do not feed pets raw meat, poultry, or unpasteurized milk.
• If your pet shows signs of illness, contact your veterinarian immediately to check for bird flu.
• Stay informed about avian influenza (H5N1) at https://www.nj.gov/H5N1.

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