The Burlington County Health Department is reminding residents and farmers to be aware of the potential spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, following a confirmed positive case at a commercial bird farm in the county.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced the case on Thursday, reporting that it was identified after the farm owner’s diligent observation of an increase in bird mortality on his farm.
The case is the latest confirmed case of bird flu in Burlington County since the nationwide outbreak started in 2022. Health officials have stressed that bird flu is still primarily an animal health issue and that the risk to humans is low. Humans with close to prolonged contact with infected animals can become infected themselves, but the virus is not known to be transmitted from human to human at this time.
In the wake of the latest case, the Burlington County Health Department officials encourage local residents to remain vigilant about avoiding contact with any dead or sick birds and to report cases to the proper authorities.
Residents who keep poultry flocks should also take additional special precautions.
“The Burlington County Health Department works closely with state and local health partners to mitigate the risks to local residents and animals, and this latest case is an example of monitoring working exactly the way it is supposed to thanks to a diligent farmer’s reporting to Department of Agriculture officials,” said Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo, the liaison to the Burlington County Health Department. “It’s also a reminder that bird flu is still present in New Jersey and that residents should stay informed and vigilant.”
Residents are encouraged to review avian flu information and guidance on the County Health Department website and follow all the recommended precautions. The webpage is at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2115/H5N1-Bird-Flu .
Information has also been distributed to municipalities to share and it was also posted in County parks.
Among the recommended precautions:
• Avoid contact with wild birds, including waterfowl such as ducks and geese; observe them at a distance;
• Avoid unprotected contact with wild or domestic birds that appear sick or have died;
• Report cases of dead or sick wild birds to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at 1-877-WARNDEP (877-927-6337);
• Report cases of dead or sick domestic birds or livestock should be reported to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400 or by emailing state.veterinarian@ag.nj.gov .
• Poultry farmers and residents with backyard chicken flocks should take special precautions to ensure backyard birds are kept indoors or in areas that are fully enclosed and away from wild birds and their waste. These owners should wash and sanitize their hands before and after handling birds. Owners should also know the signs of avian flu and report any suspected infection immediately to the Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health.
• Special precautions should be taken to dispose of dead birds. Guidance is available at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/21099/Safe-Disposal-of-Dead-Birds .
• Pet owners are encouraged to keep dogs and cats from running loose outdoors and away from areas of high concentrations of geese or geese waste;
• Pet owners who notice signs of illness in their pet bird, cat, dog or any other domesticated animal should immediately contact their family veterinarian to safely examine your pet and test for bird flu if needed.
Additional guidance is available on the New Jersey H5N1 page at https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/livestockhealth/h5n1.shtml .