NY Authorities Detect Bird Flu in Preliminary Tests on Dead Crows

The potentially contagious and lethal bird-borne disease may have entered Orange County, New York.

A test tube labelled with "Bird Flu" in front of a U.S. flag in this illustration created on June 10, 2024. Dado Ruvic/Reuters

MOUNT HOPE, N.Y.—Dead crows in the town of Wallkill have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, in preliminary tests, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation told The Epoch Times on Feb. 13.

In an email to The Epoch Times, the department said it was alerted on Jan. 29 to the dead crows, which wildlife experts retrieved for testing at a state laboratory. The preliminary tests on the crows’ brain tissue returned “presumed positive” test results for bird flu, and samples are being sent to National Veterinary Services Laboratories for further confirmation. Testing takes several weeks.

The department recommends that people not come into contact with dead birds or mammals, as they could be infected. Groups of dead birds should be treated as carriers of the virus, and people should not touch them.

Bird flu is a sickness that infects birds and mammals and, since first being detected in China in 1996, has been found in the United States and Canada, among most other countries. It is mostly carried by waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds, but can spread to raptors, domestic birds, and corvids. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there have been 64 detected human cases of bird flu and two human deaths in the United States since March 24, 2024.

There is currently no way to prevent the spread of bird flu in avian populations, the department said.

The disease is considered a low public health risk by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it is being carefully monitored by both federal and state governments. Symptoms in humans include fevers, sore throats, and irritated eyes, and severe symptoms have caused death.

The department is monitoring bird flu cases across the state, and it has a tool for reporting cases on its website. Of particular interest are reports of outbreaks in waterfowl, raptors, crows, shorebirds, and other waterbirds.

According to the department, if it is necessary for someone to remove a bird carcass, he or she should wear disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection and should use a shovel for the job. The bird should be triple bagged and placed in an outdoor trash bin, and the person should wash his or her hands and clothes immediately with hot water and soap.

Bird flu was first detected in New York state in 2022, and it has since been confirmed in many bird species, including various species of geese, eagles, and hawks. Song and perching birds do not appear to be highly susceptible to the disease. The disease has also been found in other states in many mammals, including foxes, opossums, squirrels, and cattle.

The department collected 69 reports of wild birds suspected of dying from bird flu in November 2025 and December 2025. Presumptive positive cases were found in 10 counties. Bird flu reports are expected to remain high through the spring migration season.