Bird flu kills almost all chickens, ducks on a farm in the Hudson valley

County of Ulster, Ny – The Bird flu has destroyed all birds except two in a farm in the Hudson valley, according to health officials.

The County Department of Health of Ulster said that it was informed of a positive case of highly pathogenic avian flu, also known as H5N1, or “bird flu”, in a farm that housed around 50 Chickens and ducks.

All the birds of the nameless farm, with the exception of two, died of the virus. However, the Department of Agriculture and the NYS markets have recommended that the other two birds be euthanized in order to avoid a new spread of the virus.

Health Department officials claim that human contact with birds was limited to owners and a veterinarian. They will remain under surveillance by a public health nurse for any symptom in the next 10 days.

An avian influenza epidemic started in the United States at the beginning of 2024 and mainly affected wild birds, breeding birds and dairy cows. Contact with an infected bird puts people at risk of exposure. Those who are most at risk are workers in dairy / poultry farms and in down -to -down operations.

“People working with poultry should consider wearing personal protective equipment (EPI) when working near birds,” said Eve Walter, director of public health at Ulster. “All residents must avoid managing a sick or dead wild or domestic bird. Takenate by potential exposure, please call a nurse from transmitted diseases from the Ministry of Health of the County of Ulster at 845-340-3070.”

Those who do not come into direct contact with sick animals are considered to be at low risk of avian flu. There is currently national milk surveillance in place, and so far, no known human case has been identified in Nys. There are also no known cases involving domestic animals, but it is recommended to remove pets from dead birds or animals as much as possible.

All birds with serious illness or death in backyard poultry must be reported to the Ministry of Agriculture and the NYS animal industry markets at 518-457-3502, or a local veterinarian.

Dead wild birds should be reported to the Ministry of Environment Conservation of the NYS, here.