Second, Third, Fourth Cases of HPAI in New Jersey in 2025

(TRENTON) – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s (NJDA) Division of Animal Health have confirmed new Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) poultry cases in three New Jersey live bird markets, two in Hudson County and the other in Mercer County. The disease response is being coordinated between State and Federal partners.

The risk of HPAI to the general public remains low and no live poultry were sold to the public that may have been infected. HPAI is highly contagious and often fatal in domestic poultry species.

The live bird market cases were identified through test samples from domestic poultry at each of the Hudson and Mercer County premises that were submitted and tested at the New Jersey Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory as part of routine surveillance. Samples collected during inspections on Tuesday, March 4, and Wednesday, March 5, detected HPAI. Confirmatory testing is underway at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory.

State and Federal partners are taking prompt action to prevent the spread of disease. The live bird markets are quarantined and will not receive new poultry until the quarantine is lifted after a thorough cleaning and disinfection to eliminate the virus within the facility. After the cleaning and disinfection, the markets will remain temporarily closed for a prescribed period before they are restocked.