New York's live poultry markets are facing a temporary shutdown due to a bird flu scare that has ruffled more than just feathers in the agricultural community. Governor Kathy Hochul, in a decisive move to prevent the spread of the virus, has ordered markets across New York City, Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties to close from Feb. 7 to Feb. 14 for a thorough cleaning and disinfection process. According to a report by NBC News, Markets not already affected by the virus must sell down their stock and will remain closed for five days post-cleanup.
The mandated shutdown came about after state inspectors, having discovered bird flu in seven poultry markets located in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, prompted an immediate closure. In a statement obtained by CBS News, Gov. Hochul emphasized, "Out of an abundance of caution and to thwart any further transmission, we're issuing a notice and order to temporarily shut down all live bird markets."
This influenza scare isn't just affecting the markets; it has crept into the aviaries of New York's zoos, with fatalities reported among the duck populations at the Queens and Bronx Zoos. The Wildlife Conservation Society, speaking to CBS News, announced the preemptive measure of moving vulnerable species into protected areas within these parks.
Human health risks appear to be low; the New York Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald told CBS News, "At this time, there's no human cases of avian influenza that have been diagnosed in New York State... the New York State Department of Health assesses the threat to the public as low." However, hit by the closure, the markets' ripple effect has seen a dramatic impact on the availability and prices of chicken and eggs, resulting in shortages and climbing costs. Meanwhile, in an unrelated yet equally disturbing development, a new strain of bird flu was detected in Nevada dairy cows, but authorities assure that pasteurized milk remains safe for consumption.
The economic implications have left consumers and industry stakeholders scrambling, as illustrated by the absurd yet telling incident earlier this week in Pennsylvania, where thieves made off with 100,000 eggs valued around $40,000—a testament to the high demand and desperation fueled by the shortage. New York Attorney General Letitia James warned businesses against exploiting the situation through price gouging, as mentioned in NBC News. She stated, "The bird flu is affecting poultry farms and causing a national shortage, but this should not be an excuse for businesses to dramatically raise prices."
