Bird flu has been detected in several wild birds in a Manhattan park, prompting health experts to warn New Yorkers to stay away from wildlife. Geese, a peregrine falcon, a red-tailed hawk, and a chicken were found to have tested positive for the virus in Marcus Garvey Park. Philip Meade, a postdoctoral fellow at Icahn School of Medicine, urged people to limit contact with wildlife to prevent the spread of the virus. He advised against approaching Canada geese to catch or interact with them.
However, Meade also noted that simply walking past a sick goose would not lead to contracting bird flu. The virus has been detected in 12 flocks of wild birds across seven states in the past month, with the majority of cases being reported in Texas. It was also found in domestic poultry. Despite this widespread occurrence of bird flu in wildlife, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the virus is spreading to people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that only two individuals have been infected with the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, in the United States in the past two years. Both patients had been in contact with farm animals before contracting the virus.
