Officials in New Jersey are warning residents after H5N1 avian influenza was discovered in dead wild geese in Burlington and Monmouth counties.

This is the first HPAI case reported in New Jersey Since 2023, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture on Friday.

More than 65 people have been infected nationwide; The first case of avian influenza in New Jersey poultry since a nati

The first feline case of H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”) in New Jersey has been confirmed in a feral cat from Hunterdon County, according to the

The cat was euthanized humanely, and another cat on the property was later found to have the bird flu, said health officials.

The cats had no known exposure to infected poultry, livestock, raw milk, or raw meat, but roamed freely outdoors where they may have been exposed to wild birds or other animals.

Avian influenza is a highly contagious virus that affects both wild and domestic birds, as well as some mammal species. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is closely monitoring cases of the virus, and the public is urged to report any sick or dead birds to the appropriate authorities.

It is not unusual for cats to be infected with bird flu and develop severe illness. There have been no reports of transmission from cats to humans.

The bird will now undergo confirmatory testing at a federal infectious disease surveillance laboratory, local health officials said.

The first feline case of H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI or “bird flu”) in New Jersey has been confirmed in a feral cat from Hunterdon County, according to the

Two cats in Hunterdon County, New Jersey were found to have bird flu. The cases were discovered in a feral cat and one indoor- outdoor cat, according to a news release from the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Director John E. Lanza hosted a meeting with municipal officials and OEM personnel Friday about the cases.

As the medical community monitors the risk of avian influenza outbreaks to humans, health influencers are claiming that black seed oil -- an extract from a shrub that grows around the world -- can protect against and treat bird flu.