The Blubber

New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered a temporary shutdown of live-poultry markets after bird flu cases were detected in New York City’s outer boroughs.

The directive, signed by Hochul on Friday, mandates that all live-poultry markets close from February 7 to February 14 for a full disinfection process.

Markets that haven’t tested positive for bird flu must sell off their remaining inventory and remain closed for five days following the cleaning. This applies to markets in New York City as well as Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties.

Facilities with confirmed cases of bird flu must notify the state’s Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Hochul called the measure a proactive step after seven cases of bird flu were reported in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn earlier this month.

“My top priority will always be to keep New Yorkers safe,” Hochul said. “I have directed our state agencies to use all available resources to minimize risk and protect public health.”

The Wildlife Conservation Society reported Saturday that avian influenza killed three ducks at the Queens Zoo. At the Bronx Zoo, at least 12 birds that may have been exposed to the virus also died, though lab tests are still being conducted to confirm the cause of death.

“As a precaution, we moved vulnerable bird species to protected areas in our parks over the last two weeks,” the Wildlife Conservation Society said. “Our veterinarians and curators are closely monitoring the situation and collaborating with city, state, and federal agencies.”

Concerns about bird flu are rising nationwide as cases continue to spread, contributing to the soaring cost of eggs. Earlier this week, thieves in Pennsylvania stole 100,000 eggs valued at around $40,000.

In late January, New York Attorney General Letitia James warned businesses against price gouging during the egg shortage.

“The bird flu is affecting poultry farms and causing a national shortage, but businesses should not use this as an excuse to dramatically raise prices,” James said.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that a new strain of bird flu has been detected in dairy cows for the first time. The virus was identified in Nevada through genome sequencing of milk samples.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture is conducting an on-farm investigation and working to prevent the spread of the virus.

According to the USDA, several studies have shown that commercial pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus, ensuring that milk remains safe for consumption.