Poultry

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Detections in New York

February 26, 2024 - To date, twenty-seven flocks in New York State have tested positive for HPAI. The Department is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on a joint incident response and is also collaborating with partners at the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health risk associated with these avian influenza detections remains low. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses. Birds from the affected flocks have not entered the food system.

Biosecurity

The detections of HPAI in New York prompt reminders for commercial and hobby poultry farmers to increase their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease. The Department encourages all poultry producers, from small backyard to large commercial operations, should review their biosecurity plans and take precautions to protect their birds. Poultry biosecurity materials and checklists can be found on the USDA’s “Defend the Flock” website. Best practices include:

• Discourage unnecessary visitors and use biosecurity signs to warn people not to enter buildings without permission.
• Ask all visitors if they have had any contact with any birds in the past five days.
• Forbid entry to employees and visitors who own any kind of fowl.
• Require all visitors to cover and disinfect all footwear.
• Lock all entrances to chicken houses after hours.
• Avoid non-essential vehicular traffic on-farm.
• After hauling birds to processors, clean and disinfect poultry transport coops and vehicles before they return to the farm.
• Report anything unusual, especially sick or dead birds, to AGM.

In addition to practicing good biosecurity, poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time.

To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, please contact the Department’s Division of Animal Industry at (518) 457-3502 or the USDA at (866) 536-7593.

HPAI Detections in Commercial and Backyard Flocks by Date

There are a variety of diseases that poultry owners should be aware of. These include:

• Avian Influenza
• Virulent Newcastle Disease

Visit Cornell University and the USDA for more information about each of these diseases.

Diseases need to be reported to the Department when they meet certain criteria.

It is important to be aware that people can play a role in the spread of disease by carrying the virus on their hands, shoes, and clothing. Good biosecurity practices are essential to prevent the introduction and spread of disease in a poultry flock. View the documents below to learn how to limit the spread of disease.

Emergency Information

See emergency import and export information.

Import

The requirements for importing poultry into New York State for any purpose other than slaughter are:

• A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection issued within 30 days prior to entry or a USDA VS Form 9-3.
• Adherence to testing requirements:
  • Poultry must be from an NPIP US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean flock or be tested for pullorum-typhoid within 90 days prior to entry.
  • Poultry must be from an NPIP US H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean Flock or from a flock in which 30 birds were tested for avian influenza within 10 days prior to entry. If there are less than 30 birds in the flock, test all birds.

Special Considerations

Identification Requirements for Pet Birds

Learn more about new requirements for the importation of non-US origin pet birds.

Hatching Eggs

All hatching eggs and day-old poultry imported into New York State must be from a flock that is certified US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean and US H5/H7 Avian Influenza Clean (or US Avian Influenza Clean).

Live Bird Marketing System

Please call (518) 457-3502 for requirements for poultry entering the New York Live Bird Marketing System. Only authorized poultry dealers may deliver poultry to New York live bird markets

New York City

In addition to New York State import requirements, animals whose destination is within New York City may be subject to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene regulations. Poultry entering New York City for any reason must meet these regulations. Please visit their website or call (646) 364-1783.

Export

For interstate export of poultry and poultry products, the producer should contact the destination state for current requirements.

LEARN MORE

Domestic Animal Health Permits

The Department is concerned with animal disease control and traceability in all animals, including poultry. To provide adequate control of infectious and communicable diseases, permits are issued to those who deal in, handle, and transport domestic animals. Any person who buys or sells poultry is an animal dealer and must have a Domestic Animal Health Permit.

The National Poultry Improvement Program

The National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP) is a voluntary state–Federal cooperative testing and certification program for poultry breeding flocks, baby chicks, poults, hatching eggs, hatcheries, and dealers. The objective of the NPIP is to provide a cooperative state–Federal program through which new technology can effectively be applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products by establishing standards for the testing of poultry breeding stock, baby chicks, poults, and hatching eggs with respect to freedom from certain diseases. 

A NPIP US Pullorum-Typhoid Clean status may be required by poultry shows or purchasers of birds or hatching eggs from your flock. The Department tests and inspects poultry flocks and hatcheries in New York State for certification in the plan. To qualify, up to 300 birds in your flock over four months of age must test negative to a pullorum- typhoid blood test. In addition, your facility needs to pass an inspection on the day of the test.

A completed NPIP application must be sent in every year prior to each flock test and inspection. Please note that processing can take 30 days or more. After that, an inspector will call you to schedule an appointment.