During the week ending March 12th, four cases of HPAI were recorded in Kings County, NY (Borough of Brooklyn) and two in adjoining Queens County, (Borough of Queens). In addition, a live bird market yielded HPAI in Orange County, FL. These isolations are a function of the intensity of surveillance.
Live bird markets serve as an indicator of HPAI in supply flocks and are essentially end points in the chain of infection extending from migratory birds through small commercial flock to their ultimate commercial destination.
The question arises as to the number and extent of infected supply flocks since these are as yet unidentified representing a danger of extension to commercial broiler, egg and turkey farms. Are federal authorities following a program of traceback? Are isolations from live bird markets a reflection of the extent of infection in this segment of U.S. poultry production? The USDA has yet to release a definitive epidemiological study on the live bird market system.
At the end of the day, one may question the desirability or even the necessity of live bird markets given the availability of processed chicken from plants inspected by the USDA and subject to a cold chain. Perpetuation of an anachronistic system of selling live and storefront-slaughtered poultry to a small, defined cohort of consumers represents a danger not only to the poultry industry but also to the patrons of these markets. Transmission of zoonotic strains of avian influenza, including H9N2; H3N8 and H5N1 in China, Viet Nam and other Asian nations, confirm the potential for zoonotic infection.
The impact of the ongoing avian influenza epornitic is exemplified by losses during the first quarter of 2026. To date, depopulations in 2026 have included 2.4 million egg production pullets, 14.3 million laying hens, 0.9 million turkeys and 1.2 million broilers including a few parent flocks.
Live bird markets are unnecessary, represent a danger to commercial poultry production and are a potential human health hazard.