In New Jersey, hundreds of Canadian geese have died, with bird flu suspected as the cause, leading to park closures across seven counties.
In New Jersey, over 1,100 wild birds, primarily Canadian geese, have been reported dead or sick between February 14 and February 16 across seven counties, raising alarms about a potential outbreak of bird flu. The state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) indicated that preliminary observations suggest the involvement of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a serious respiratory disease that affects birds and is caused by influenza A viruses. While official test results are still pending, officials are taking the situation seriously as the deaths could signal an ongoing threat to local wildlife and potentially to domestic poultry.
Dr. David J. Cennimo, an infectious diseases specialist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, remarked on the concerning nature of the bird deaths, calling the images of dead and sick animals
