As part of an ongoing effort to monitor Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a new online platform for the public to report suspected outbreaks in wild birds. HPAI was first observed in New York in a poultry flock in 2022, and has since been detected in free-ranging wild birds and wild mammals throughout the state.
Once a report is received, the field response will be guided by the report’s details, including the number of sick or dead birds, bird species, and observations from areas where HPAI has not yet been documented. DEC notes that not all reports will result in the retrieval of the animals for testing, as the department is focusing its efforts on HPAI vector species – including waterfowl, crows, shorebirds, and other aquatic birds – which are particularly vulnerable and can provide valuable data.
While there have been no human cases of HPAI in the state, DEC urges residents to minimize risk and limit disease spread by preventing contact with wild birds and reporting suspected cases.
For more information, see DEC’s announcement.
