Live poultry markets in New York City raced to sell off all their chickens and other fowl Friday after seven cases of avian flu were detected and state officials ordered markets in the metropolitan area to close for a week.

The order affects roughly 80 markets in New York City and in several nearby counties. New Jersey is also asking its live markets to voluntarily clean, disinfect and temporarily close.

"We will continue to take these measured, common sense steps that will curb the spread of bird flu and ultimately protect our communities.”