When you gotta roam, we pet sit in your home! Services are to manage your critters when your unable
02/20/2025
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The Burlington County Health Department announced the county’s first bird to test positive for H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, this week and encouraged residents to take precautions by avoiding contact with any sick or deceased birds they encounter.
The positive test is from a wild Canada goose that was found deceased with other wild geese earlier this month in Pemberton. The bird was tested by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as part of its avian influenza monitoring and the Burlington County Health Department was notified of the presumed positive test Wednesday evening.
The positive test marks the first confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Burlington County since the nationwide outbreak started in 2022. Clusters of sick and deceased wild birds have also been discovered in several other New Jersey counties, including Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Monmouth, Salem and Warren.
Health officials stressed that the respiratory disease is still primarily an animal health issue and the risk to humans is still low. Humans with close or prolonged contact with infected animals can become infected, but the virus is not known to be transmitted from human to human at this time.
“Our Health Department was expecting H5N1’s eventual arrival and we had already started making preparations,” said Burlington County Health Department Director Dr. Holly Funkhouser Cucuzzella. “The risk to public health in Burlington County is still low but we want residents to be informed and vigilant. Residents should avoid all contact with dead or sick birds and those keeping poultry flocks should take special precautions. We are also asking residents to report deaths of wild or domestic birds, especially large groups of them.”
Burlington County Commissioner Tyler Burrell, liaison to the County Health Department, said the County would work closely with state and local partners to mitigate any risks for to local residents and animals.
“Burlington County is committed to protecting public health and we are grateful to have such experienced and knowledgeable health and emergency management teams to lead our response to this avian influenza,” said Burrell. “Burlington County residents can help us by staying informed and taking precautions to keep people, pets and backyard poultry away from wild birds or areas where wild birds have been known to frequent.”
The Burlington County Health Department has created a special H5N1 Avian Influenza webpage with the latest information and guidance about the outbreak at https://www.co.burlington.nj.us/2115/H5N1-Bird-Flu .
Information is also being distributed to municipalities to share and posted in all County parks to increase awareness.
Learn more about the County's guidance and precautions residents should take by clicking on the link in the comments section.
