Beginning in late March 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first cases of the current H5N1 Avian Influenza (“bird flu”) outbreak in dairy cows, poultry, and other animals in the United States. The CDC in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners, has continued to monitor animal and human cases of H5N1. While the current public health risk is low, the CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. The Salem County Department of Health and Human Services is also actively monitoring the most current information, working with state officials, and providing updates to the public regarding the ongoing H5N1 Avian Influenza situation.
H5N1 Avian Influenza has been affecting wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. Between August 2025 and February 17th, 2026, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed detections in eight (8) counties (Bergen, Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren) and a preliminary detection in five (5) counties (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, and Hunterdon). According to the most recent USDA data, the last detection in Salem County was reported on March 13, 2025, in five (5) non-poultry birds. There have been no reported cases in humans in New Jersey, but the virus has been detected in multiple domestic cats.
Several human cases have been reported among U.S. dairy and poultry workers after being exposed to infected animals. Currently, there has been no reported spread of the virus from person to person.
It is important to take proper precautions to protect your health, especially those who work with poultry, dairy cows, or wildlife. The following precautions are recommended:
- Avoid direct contact with wild birds.
- Avoid unprotected (not using respiratory protection + eye protection + gloves) physical contact with sick and/or dead animals, whether they are your pets or wild animals.
- Avoid eating or drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk/raw milk products. Also do not feed these products to pets.
- Properly cook poultry products before eating them.
- If you work with poultry, dairy cows, or wildlife, it is important to use personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Report sick or dead wild birds, particularly in groups of five (5) or more, to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish and Wildlife hotline at 1-877-WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337) or online through the Wild Bird Disease Reporting Form.
- Report sick or unexplained deaths in domestic poultry or livestock to the NJ Department of Agriculture, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400 or.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and follow the guidelines provided by health officials to minimize the risk of exposure. For more information from the Salem County Department of Health and Human Services on H5N1 Avian Influenza and how to protect yourself, please visit this website or call (856) 935-7510.
For more information on the current situation and to access the most current CDC data, please visit the CDC website at: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html#cdc_situation_summary_current-current-situation.
Additional guidance for local health partners, health care providers, and the public can be found at nj.gov/H5N1 and nj.gov/health/cd/topics/novel_flu.shtml.