Bird Flu Found At Live Bird Market In Philadelphia: CDC

PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities said bird flu was identified in a Philadelphia live bird market recently.

According to the CDC, the discovery was made Wednesday.

Despite the virus being found in the market, which was not identified, the CDC said the flock size was zero.

This is a stark difference from the first time a live bird market in Philadelphia was identified as having bird flu. On Feb. 24, federal officials said the flock size where the virus was found was 1,100.

Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health said a snow goose found in Carroll Park on Jan. 11 had bird flu.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, bird flu, scientifically highly pathogenic avian influenza, varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected.

Strains are deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days.

Low pathogenicity avian influenza strains typically cause few or no signs of illness. They occur naturally in wild birds around the world. However, some low pathogenicity avian influenza strains can become highly pathogenic in poultry.

The agency noted these viruses rarely infect people.