Dead Geese With Presumed Bird Flu Found In Gloucester Twp.

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — A number of dead geese were found in Gloucester Township recently as the state sees a surge in wildlife suspected of having bird flu.

More than 1,100 dead or sick wild birds were reported across New Jersey during the long weekend, according to environmental officials. Most were dead Canada geese.

During that timeframe, about 15 dead geese were reported in Gloucester Township, according to Camden County health officials.

Specific locations weren't shared. But a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) told Patch that dead Canada geese were reported in Sicklerville this past weekend. Read more: More Than 1K Dead Birds Reported Across NJ Over 3 Days Prompting Park Closures

At this time, the NJDEP is unlikely to conduct additional avian-flu testing in areas where the virus was already detected. Levels of avian influenza were found in local wastewater last March, officials said.

Dead geese have emerged in other parts of South Jersey. Recently, more than 50 dead geese with presumed bird flu were found in and around Alcyon Lake in Pitman. Two adjacent parks were closed Tuesday as officials began investigating the matter.

Dead geese in Hainesport, Burlington County, were also reported to the NJDEP in recent days.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza — a particularly potent bird flu strain known as H5N1 — has been at the center of an outbreak that federal officials have monitored since early 2022.

The current public health risk to humans remains low, officials say. But H5N1 can cause severe illness in humans, killing two people in the U.S. over the past two years.

No cases in humans or domestic animals have been reported in Camden County, says County Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher.

"We are working closely with the NJDEP to ensure that deceased birds are being reported to the state, and disposed of properly," she said Wednesday in a statement.

To lower the risk of contracting bird flu, Camden County health officials recommend the following:

• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds: Don't touch sick or dead animals, and don't bring wild animals into your home.
• Practice good hygiene: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after potential exposure to birds and their droppings. If soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer.
• Cook poultry thoroughly: Ensure chicken, turkey, and eggs are cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill any potential viruses.
• Keep pets away from wild birds: Prevent pets, particularly cats and dogs, from coming into contact with wild birds.
• Monitor for symptoms: If you have had close contact with birds and experience flu-like symptoms, seek medical advice promptly.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans resemble seasonal flu and can include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue/muscle aches, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and/or difficulty breathing. Early treatment with antiviral medications can help reduce the severity of symptoms.

To report sick or dead wild birds, please use the NJDEP Fish and Wildlife Wild Bird Disease Reporting Form.

Here's more information on H5N1 from the CDC and New Jersey Department of Agriculture.