Overview

• Around 80 live poultry markets in New York City and nearby counties have been ordered to close for one week following multiple detections of the H5N1 bird flu virus.
• Health officials emphasize that the closures are precautionary and that the immediate risk to the general public remains low.
• The bird flu outbreak has caused significant disruptions across the U.S., including egg shortages and rising prices in many regions.
• In January, the first human death from H5N1 in the U.S. was reported in Louisiana; the individual had prior contact with infected birds.
• A new variant of the virus, D1.1, has been detected in cow milk in Nevada, raising concerns about potential mutations and broader implications for public health.