To combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, Governor Kathy Hochul on Friday directed live bird markets in New York City, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau counties to temporarily shut down.
The Department of Agriculture and Markets issued a new Notice and Order for live bird markets that have not had a detection of HPAI, the governor said through a press release. The order requires those markets to sell down all inventory, complete cleaning and disinfection procedures and remain closed for a period of five days after cleaning and disinfection.
This Notice and Order follows seven detections of HPAI in markets in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn during routine surveillance conducted by AGM since Jan. 31, 2025.
In addition, the directive further outlines quarantine and depopulation procedures for markets that have confirmed detections of HPAI.
“Safeguarding public health is all about being proactive, and New York State is continuing our coordinated effort to monitor for the Avian Influenza,” Hochul said. “My top priority will always be to keep New Yorkers safe, and I have directed our state agencies to use all available resources to ensure we are taking every measure necessary to keep the risk to the public low. We will continue to take these measured, common sense steps that will curb the spread of bird flu and ultimately protect our communities.”
