NEW YORK (WABC) — Scientists in New York City have a brand new warning after a research from Mount Sinai discovered the extremely contagious hen flu in some metropolis birds.
Health officers at the moment are warning in the event you come throughout a hen or every other animal that’s sick, useless or appearing unusual — keep away.
Only two human instances of hen flu have been reported within the nation since 2022 and the CDC says the present danger to most people is low — however it is very important be cautious.
In 2022, Rita McMahon with the Wild Bird Fund, together with the Icahn School of Medicine, the Krammer Lab on the Icahn School of Medicine and Bio Bus teamed as much as kind the NYC Virus Hunters.
“People do not consider there’s wildlife right here, however we’re actually very, very wealthy in wildlife as a result of we’re on the Atlantic Flyway and we’ve got so many locations for the birds to cease over throughout migration,” McMahon stated.
Researchers and native college students spent almost two years accumulating samples from a variety of birds, together with ones we see typically like geese and geese, to raptors.
Their findings had been revealed earlier this month.
“We detected six viruses in birds that had been the New York City space,” stated Dr. Philip Meade with the Icahn School of Medicine. “We discovered them in inexperienced areas in New York City, even in Manhattan the place a hen was operating free.”
Other birds that examined optimistic for the H5N1 pressure embody geese within the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, a red-tailed hawk in Queens, and a peregrine falcon within the Bronx.
Around the globe the virus has impacted animals like foxes and cattle — and two people within the U.S. are additionally identified to have been contaminated. Both folks had extended contact with contaminated animals and neither case was deadly.
In 2022, a jail inmate in a piece program caught it whereas killing contaminated birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His solely symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.
This week, Texas well being officers introduced {that a} person who had been in touch with cows had been identified with hen flu. Their solely reported symptom was eye redness.
Experts say New Yorkers can hold themselves secure through the use of frequent sense.
“We must assume if we see a sick animal, any type of animal, take care precautions, put on gloves, a masks, and make sure you’ve gotten one thing between you and the animal,” McMahon stated. “If you are making an attempt to rescue it, hold your pets away, your kids away from any sick animal.”
U.S. well being officers have burdened that the present public well being danger is low and that there isn’t any signal that hen flu is spreading person to person.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
ALSO READ | The largest recent egg producer within the US has discovered hen flu in chickens at a Texas plant
Approximately 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets had been destroyed after avian influenza was discovered within the flock.
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More New York City information
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking information alerts
Submit a tip or story thought to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking information tip or an thought for a narrative we should always cowl? Send it to Eyewitness News utilizing the shape under. If attaching a video or photograph, phrases of use apply.
Copyright © 2024 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
