A dangerous strain of bird flu has been discovered in a private flock of birds at a Long Island home, prompting an urgent state and federal response to contain the infectious disease.
The United States Department of Agriculture and the New York State Department of Agriculture on Saturday confirmed a positive test for highly pathogenic avian influenza in what they described as a “small flock of non-commercial backyard” of eight non-avian birds in Suffolk County.
“State officials have quarantined the damaged buildings and birds on the property will be evacuated to prevent the spread of disease. Birds in the flock will not enter the food system,” the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said in a statement.
State and federal authorities also announced that they would launch a major biosecurity response, with testing and monitoring in surrounding areas.
The disease is described as highly contagious and often fatal to chickens. Human infections with avian influenza are rare and usually involve prolonged exposure to sick or dead birds. Selon le Center for Disease Control and Preventionbut it is often fatal when it occurs.
It was not immediately clear from the federal statement what exact strain of bird flu had been identified in the Suffolk County birds, although the USDA said this week that the Eurasian strain H5 had recently been discovered in the States. States, and the CDC said they were appearing. Being H5N1 specifically.
So far this year, bird flu has been detected in commercial flocks in Indiana and Kentucky and in a backyard flock in Virginia. It has also been found in wild birds in at least nine states.
There have been no human cases yet, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said this week that it considers the recent outbreak to be of low risk to the general public.