Official Site of The State of New Jersey

• There are no reported cases of human infection of H5N1 in NJ.
• Please report suspected sick or dead animals:
  • If you find sick or dead wild birds, do not handle them. Contact the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife hotline using this online form: NJDEP Wild Bird Disease Reporting Form.
  • If you suspect sick or dead poultry, do not handle them. Contact the NJ Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400. 
• The risk to humans is low, but people who have direct contact with infected animals should take precautions to lower risk of infection, including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), which is available at each county’s Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office. If you suspect that you or your pet may have H5N1, contact your local health department.
• CDC recommends that pet owners keep their pets away from wild birds and refrain from feeding their pets raw milk or raw pet food.
• The commercial milk supply is safe. The New Jersey Departments of Health and Agriculture caution against the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products by humans and by pets. New Jersey’s dairy herds have tested free of H5N1, earning the State an “Unaffected” status and advancing it to Stage 4 of the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy.
• For up-to-date federal guidance, see: CDC | H5N1 Bird flu: Current Situation Summary

What is H5N1? H5N1 (called “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza” or “bird flu”) is a disease caused by influenza A viruses. Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, can carry and spread these viruses but may show no signs of illness. However, H5N1 can cause severe disease and death in domestic poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese). H5N1 is causing illness in dairy cattle in multiple states as well, and cases of H5N1 have also been reported in wild birds, mammals, and other domestic companion animals, such as cats. People with close or prolonged contact with infected animals or contaminated environments may be at a higher risk of avian influenza infection.

• CDC| How Infected Backyard Poultry Could Spread Bird Flu to People.

• Human cases: None.
• Wild birds: Confirmed detections have occurred in all 21 counties in New Jersey.
• Poultry:
  • Live Bird Markets: Confirmed detections in Hudson, Mercer, Union and Essex Counties.
  • Commercial Poultry Farms: None.
  • Backyard flocks: Confirmed detections in Atlantic and Salem Counties.
• Cattle/livestock: None.
• Cats: Confirmed detections in cats in Hunterdon and Union Counties.
• Other animals: Confirmed detections in captive bears in Ocean County. Confirmed detections in wild foxes in Essex and Mercer Counties.

• 5/23/2025 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Essex County Live Bird Market
• 5/13/2025 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Case Confirmed and Contained in Essex County Live Bird Market
• 3/7/2025 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Hudson, Mercer County Live Bird Markets
• 2/28/2025 - H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in New Jersey Cat
• 2/21/2025 - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Union County Live Bird Market
• 1/17/2025 - Murphy Administration Updates Public On Steps Being Taken To Track And Respond To H5N1 Avian Influenza (Joint Release)
• 5/16/2024 - NJ Agriculture, Health Departments Caution Raw Milk Consumption for Humans, Pets After Bird Flu Outbreaks

• NJDEP/NJDOH/NJDA | NJ Takes Steps to Track and Respond to H5N1
• NJDOH | Frequently Asked Questions
• NJDA | Bird Flu in Dairy Cattle FAQs
• CDC | Bird Flu | Information for Specific Groups
• CDC | How Bird Flu Might Spread from Cows to People
• CDC | How Infected Backyard Poultry Could Spread Bird Flu to People
• NJDOH | Tips to Stay Healthy Around Animals at Fairs and Animal Exhibitions
• CDC | Fair Attendees: Take Actions to Prevent Flu at the Fair

Bird Flu: What do you need to know?

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H5N1 Avian Influenza: What do health care providers need to know?

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• New Jersey State Resources

  • New Jersey Department of Agriculture
  • New Jersey Department of Health
  • NJ Fish and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection

• Federal Resources

• USDA: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
• CDC | Information on Avian Influenza
• FDA | Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• World Health Organization: Avian Influenza
• USDA Guidance on H5N1 in Livestock
• USDA H5N1 in Dairy Herds: FAQs

• New Jersey Department of Health
• CDC | Bird Flu | Information for Specific Groups
• CDC | Guidance for Clinicians on Human Infections with Variant Influenza Viruses
• Information on animal to human spread of influenza (National Association of Public Health Veterinarians)
• NJ DOH | Surveillance Criteria and Testing Guidance for Avian Influenza in Humans

• New Jersey Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health
• NJDA | Avian Influenza
• USDA | Requirements and Recommendations for H5N1 Virus in Livestock
• CDC | Information for Workers Exposed to H5N1 Bird Flu
• CDC | H5N1 Bird flu: Reducing Risk for People Working with or Exposed to Animals
• CDC | Bird Flu | Information for Specific Groups
• NJDA | Fair/Show Recommendations for Exhibition Dairy Cattle
• CDC | Considerations and Information for Fair Exhibitors to Help Prevent Influenza
• OSHA | Avian Flu Quick Card – English | Spanish

To report sick or dead poultry, contact the NJ Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.

• NJ Fish and Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection
• USDA: Avian Influenza Information for Hunters
• USDA: Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• USDA: Avian Influenza and Wild Birds
• CDC | Bird Flu | Information for Specific Groups

If you find sick or dead wild birds, do not handle them. Contact the NJ DEP Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-877-WARNDEP.

• Department of Agriculture | NJ Agriculture, Health Departments Caution Raw Milk Consumption for Humans, Pets After Bird Flu Outbreaks
• FDA | Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
• FDA | Questions and Answers Regarding Milk Safety During HPAI Outbreaks
• CDC | Food Safety | Raw Milk
• CDC | Raw Milk: Know the Facts
• USDA | Safety of Eggs during Avian Influenza Outbreaks
• USDA | Food Safety and Avian Influenza Q&A