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Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

Avian Influenza H5N1 in New York State

H5N1, a strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu), has been found in poultry, wild birds (mainly water birds and raptors), and mammals in New York State, including New York City. In other parts of the United States, H5N1 has been detected in dairy cattle and other animals.

Following the detection of bird flu in two cats in NYC, pet owners are advised to not feed their cats food from the raw pet food company Savage Cat Food. The two cats, and possibly a third were all connected to Savage Cat Food, poultry packets lot number 11152026. If your cat is sick after consuming Savage Cat Food products or other raw meat or dairy products, contact your veterinarian. Learn more about raw pet food and bird flu (PDF).

The overall risk of bird flu to the public remains low. To date, no one has developed bird flu in New York City. There have been no reported cases in humans in NYC or elsewhere in the state. There have been cases of H5N1 in people elsewhere in the U.S., but no human-to-human transmission has been identified.

People who handle or work with sick birds, poultry, dairy cattle, or other animals may be at higher risk. Also, eating or drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk products from cows with bird flu may put you at risk for infection. Pasteurized milk products are safe to eat or drink. You can protect yourself and others from infection by following the prevention strategies below, which includes information for cat owners and people with backyard flocks.

If you feel sick after having contact with sick or dead birds or other animals, contact your health care provider.

For the latest updates on H5N1 or other highly pathogenic avian influenza, visit the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab.

Avian influenza, also called avian flu or bird flu, is a disease that is spread primarily among water birds and is caused by flu viruses. Water birds (such as ducks, geese, gulls, and swans) can carry bird flu, sometimes without looking sick. Infected birds spread the virus through their saliva, nasal fluid, and feces to each other, and sometimes to poultry and animals.

There are many types of bird flu viruses. Some cause no or only mild signs or symptoms of disease in poultry, and others, called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), can cause severe disease and death in poultry and other birds. The H5N1 virus is a type of HPAI that has been circulating in the US since 2022 and has spread to mammals, including dairy cows and cats.

Some bird flu viruses can infect humans, but the risk is low. How sick a person becomes depends on the type of bird flu. Symptoms can range from no or mild illness to severe disease and death. Most people with H5N1 in the US have had conjunctivitis (red or inflamed eyes) and fever. Some have had mild respiratory illness. However, a small number of severe cases of illness and death have been reported.

Prevention

Protect yourself and others by following these guidelines:

Avoid contact with birds that look sick or have died.
Avoid contact with surfaces that have bird feces.
Follow these food safety tips:

Handle poultry and eggs safely and cook them to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Do not consume raw milk or raw milk products. Consume pasteurized milk and milk products.

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H5N1 in Wild Birds

Reporting Dead Birds

Report groups of sick or dead birds immediately.

For wild birds, especially waterbirds (like ducks, geese, gulls, loons, herons, and swans), raptors (like hawks or eagles), and crows, report online using the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Avian Influenza Reporting Form.

NYS tests wild birds at the NYS Cornell Wildlife Health Laboratory. Once H5N1 is detected in a borough or county, further testing will usually not be done.

For other animal-related concerns, visit or call 311.

Handling Dead Birds

Some people may have to handle a dead bird because it is on their property. Follow these steps if you need to do so:

Wear disposable gloves and a face mask when handling the dead bird.
Wear a disposable apron if the bird’s body is not intact to prevent your clothing from being contaminated. You can make a disposable apron out of a trash bag.
Avoid direct contact with the bird's body by using a shovel or a garbage bag to pick up the bird.
Put the dead bird into a thick plastic trash bag and tie it closed. Then place this bag into another plastic trash bag, and then into a third bag.
Before closing the outer bag, remove your disposable gloves (inside out), surgical mask, and apron, and place them into the outer bag. Then tie it closed.
Place the triple-bagged bird's body in a trash bin right away.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
Remove contaminated clothing before entering households to protect other people and pets. Wash clothing with hot water and detergent.

H5N1 in Poultry and Backyard Flocks

Report groups of sick or dead birds immediately. For poultry, call the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3502. They oversees surveillance for bird flu in poultry, including the live bird markets in NYC and coordinates testing and response efforts. Find more information about bird flu surveillance in poultry on the NYS Agriculture and Markets webpage.

If you own or care for chickens or other poultry, follow these tips:

Wear personal protective equipment or clothing and shoes that you use only when caring for your poultry.
Wash your clothes and disinfect your shoes after you use them.
Wash your hands before and after handling poultry.
Clean and disinfect equipment and vehicles before and after you use them.
Do not share tools, supplies, or garden equipment with other flock owners.
Keep wild birds away from your flock.

Signs of illness in poultry include:

Sudden death without signs of illness
Lack of energy or appetite
Decreased number of eggs or misshapen eggs
Swollen head, eyelids, wattles, and hocks
Purple colored wattles, comb, and legs
Respiratory issues, such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose and difficulty breathing
Falling
Diarrhea

Learn more about how to protect your chickens or other poultry from bird flu by visiting the USDA and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

H5N1 in Cats and Other Mammals

Mammals can become infected if they eat infected birds, eating or drinking raw food or raw dairy products, or spend time in an area contaminated with bird flu viruses. The H5N1 virus has been found in several types of mammals, including dairy cattle, stray and domestic cats, foxes, raccoons, skunks, farmed mink, sea mammals, and zoo animals such as tigers and leopards.

Cat Owners

Cats can get very sick and sometime die from bird flu. Cats have become infected from drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk, eating raw pet food or uncooked poultry, or eating infected birds. Signs of illness in cats may include seizures, trouble walking, fever, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and behavior changes.

Follow these tips for protecting cats:

Do not feed cats raw food diets or raw milk.
Prevent cats from roaming outdoors where they may hunt wild birds or other animals.
Contact your veterinarian if your cat becomes sick.

Getting sick with bird flu from cats is unlikely, but pet owners should always make sure to avoid close contact with sick cats.

H5N1 bird flu has not been detected in outdoor cats in NYC, however, it may be possible for cats to catch the virus from infected birds, particularly water birds, they hunt.

If you interact with stray or feral cats, or work with a cat colony, take precautions to reduce the risk to you and any pet cat you may have at home for H5N1 and other diseases spread among cats. Avoid touching cat feces and urine (or items that may be contaminated with feces or urine), and remove any contaminated shoes or clothing before entering your home.

For more information, visit AVMA: Avian Influenza in Cats.