New Yorkers, beware: If you come across a bird or animal that is sick, dead or acting strangely, keep yourself and your pets at a safe distance. The bird flu virus, H5N1, is present in at least a small fraction of birds in New York City, according to a new study.
The finding is not entirely surprising, as H5N1 has now been shown to affect migratory birds, a wide range of wild animals, poultry and, last month, dairy cattle. However, its discovery in the city is an unpleasant reminder that urban spaces are not exempt.
People typically associate zoonotic diseases with rural settings, farms or forests, said Florian Krammer, an influenza expert at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York who led the study, which was published online last week.
But New York City has plenty of green spaces and bodies of water used by migratory and local birds, he said: “There’s a wide interface between wild animals and people in cities.”
“There’s no reason to panic, but it’s good to know,” he added.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned health care providers watch for the signs of bird flu infection. So far, only two Americans have been reported infected with H5N1, one in 2022 and the other earlier this month.
The virus caused large outbreaks in mink and foxes, and wiped out thousands of marine mammals, especially in South America. Scientists have tracked the virus along migratory routes and stopovers, in wild birds in rural areas and commercial poultry operations and, most recently, in cows on dairy farms.
But right now, the virus is “everywhere,” said Seema Lakdawala, a virologist at Emory University. “I’d be surprised if in any urban environment you went to, you didn’t see a small percentage of H5.”
“This is an important lesson for all big cities,” he added.
Migratory birds and other species live in urban green spaces and wetlands, where they may encounter scavengers, such as squirrels, pets and even people. Cats and dogs are susceptible to the bird flu virus and can get it from infected birds, their droppings or contaminated water.
“People don’t think there’s a lot of wildlife in New York City, but we’re really rich,” said Rita McMahon, director and co-founder of the nonprofit Wild Bird Fund, a wildlife rehabilitation center in New York City.
The new study is a product of the New York City Virus Hunters initiative, a collaboration between the rehabilitation center, Mount Sinai scientists, community members and a science outreach organization. This includes high school students who are members of minority groups that are underrepresented in science.
From January 2022 to November 2023, researchers collected samples from bird species ranging from wild ducks and geese to shorebirds and raptors. Some of the birds are dead; others showed neurological symptoms and were euthanized.
In about 1,900 samples from animals, they found H5N1 versions in six, in four species: Canada geese in the Bronx and Queens; a red-tailed hawk near a major highway in Queens; a Canada goose and a peregrine falcon in Brooklyn; and a chicken in Upper Manhattan.
The researchers were not surprised to find the virus in Canada geese and raptors, but “it was somewhat unexpected to receive samples from a chicken found in Marcus Garvey Park,” they wrote.
The team has found two more infected birds since the study ended. “My hope is that as we continue to search, we will find more,” said Dr. Kramer. The low number of infected birds found so far may be a result of the test used by the researchers, which does not detect small amounts of the virus, he said.
Praised by Dr. The citizen science aspect of the project is valuable as a way to gather more samples than is possible from formal monitoring efforts alone, while also educating the public on the safe handling of samples.
“The USDA can’t do everything, the CDC can’t do everything,” he said, referring to the federal agencies that typically conduct such surveillance. “We really need to have a wider network so we can get a better snapshot of what’s going on and what the viruses are.”
At the same time, he said, residents should be responsible and not touch a dead bird. The New York City health department is advising residents that report birds and animals who is sick, dead or acting strange by calling 311.
Each year, about 9,000 people bring injured wildlife — from songbirds and doves to squirrels and opossums — to the Wild Bird Fund’s rehab center. Some people are in tears. Others “go in kissing a sick goose, thinking it will help,” Ms. McMahon.
But now, New Yorkers should be extra careful when they see an injured or sick bird or animal, he said.
“It doesn’t mean they can’t save it and bring it to us,” said Ms. McMahon. But people should wear gloves, wrap the animal and take other precautions.
And “no kiss,” she said. “Direct physical affection is not a plus to the animal.”
