Well being officers in New Jersey are warning residents after H5N1 avian influenza — or chicken flu — was present in lifeless wild Canada geese in Burlington and Monmouth counties lately.
In Burlington County, officers stated chicken flu was present in a lifeless goose that was recovered from a location in Pemberton.
Right here, officers stated, the chicken was discovered with different lifeless geese and it was examined as a part of a monitoring program.
Officers stated that this constructive take a look at marks the primary confirmed case of extremely pathogenic avian influenza in Burlington County because the nationwide outbreak began in 2022.
Earlier this month, in Monmouth County, the New Jersey Division of Environmental Safety closed Dr. Farmer’s Park, Pete Sensi Park, and Heritage Park till additional discover after lifeless geese discovered on the millpond and surrounding areas in Allentown Borough examined constructive for chicken flu.
In accordance with officers in New Jersey, clusters of sick and deceased wild birds have additionally been found in a number of different counties, together with Atlantic, Cape Might, Cumberland, Salem and Warren.
In a press release, New Jersey well being officers burdened that the respiratory illness continues to be primarily an animal well being difficulty and the danger to people continues to be low.
“Humans with close or prolonged contact with infected animals can become infected, but the virus is not known to be transmitted from human to human at this time,” officers stated in a press release.
Additionally in a press release, Burlington County Well being Division Director, Dr. Holly Funkhouser Cucuzzella, stated the county had anticipated chicken flu would finally make its approach to the neighborhood and preparations to deal with this discovery have been already underway.
“Our Health Department was expecting H5N1’s eventual arrival and we had already started making preparations,” stated Funkhouser Cucuzzella. “The risk to public health in Burlington County is still low but we want residents to be informed and vigilant. Residents should avoid all contact with dead or sick birds and those keeping poultry flocks should take special precautions. We are also asking residents to report deaths of wild or domestic birds, especially large groups of them.”
The Burlington County Well being Division has created a particular H5N1 Avian Influenza webpage with the most recent data and steering in regards to the outbreak at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2115/H5N1-Fowl-Flu.
For extra data on the chicken flu circumstances in Monmouth County, click on right here.
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