The New York State Agriculture Department confirmed that more live animals markets have suffered avian flu shoots this month, raising the total to eight outbreaks in just seven weeks.
The outbreaks, which affect thousands of birds, have revived the calls of groups defending the rights of animals and public health experts for the immediate closure of these markets.
In response, Nyclass (New York For Care of Animals, a non -profit organization of animal protection) carried out surprise research this month, discovering dangerous and unhealthy conditions in several markets of sacrifice of living animals.
The investigations were directed by the executive director of Nyclass, Edita Birnkrant, the bird expert John Di Leonardo and the founder of the Guardian Angels, Curtis Sliwa.
“These markets, with thousands of people in close contact with stressed animals, create the perfect environment for an influenza virus to jump to humans and even combine with seasonal flu, which could generate a virus with pandemic potential,” said Dr. Crystal Heath, veterinarian and public health expert.
Birnkrant also expressed concern about the lack of government action.
“The alarming increase in avian flu in seven wet markets and thousands of birds in just one week shows that there is no sure way to operate these markets in New York without endangering public health.”
Nyclass investigations revealed shocking conditions.
Last month, the group published a video with Councilor Robert Holden, showing sick birds, overcrowded cages and biological dangers in Queens and Brooklyn markets.
The markets were closed five days in February, but when reopening, the conditions remained equally dangerous. The video revealed crowded cages with sick animals, chicken stool, blood and animal remains on sidewalks, without biosecurity measures for the public.
With the recent outbreaks, Nyclass has again alerted about government failure to address the insecure conditions that continue to represent a serious threat to public health.
“Examining thirty birds among possibly hundreds of thousands on industrial farms and declare them free of aviar flu, as stated by the recent order of the New York Department of Agriculture, is tremendously irresponsible,” said John Di Leonardo, who is also president of Humane Long Island and Duck Defenders.
“Industrial farms keep birds in conditions of overcrowding and dirt so extreme that the farmers mutilate their peaks and cut off their fingers in an attempt that more birds reach the market, after experiencing autolesions and cannibalism due to these conditions.”
Rachel McCrystal, executive director of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, expressed similar concerns when explaining how the sanctuary has rescued many animals directly from living markets in New York City.
After examining them, he pointed out that these animals are usually sick, often suffering from bacterial infections, viruses or other health problems caused by poor conditions, lack of medical care and prolonged negligence.
Some animals are so seriously affected that they do not survive long after being rescued. To protect the sanctuary, its residents and staff, quarantine protocols are followed to avoid the propagation of diseases. These are the same animals that are sold in New York markets, which makes the situation both dangerous and inhuman.
Curtis sliwa, who is postulated in the elections for mayor this year, also spoke against the lack of government intervention.
“It is clear that the state and municipal agencies that have warned us about the spread of the avian flu in general, and especially in the wet markets, have not imposed a total closure of these markets or have applied strong fines to the owners and operators,” he said.
“The conditions in wet markets are inhuman. The virus can spread to animals abroad and now represents a danger to humans. The closure of five days did not work. Now is time to close these markets.”
A new outbreak in Queens this week means that the County concentrates half of the 16 cases of avian flu in New York in the last seven weeks.
The lack of transparency of the New York Department of Agriculture on which markets have sold infected birds only increases the frustration of the public.
“Governor Hochul should have closed the markets in February to control the aviar flu, as we request. Instead, it is allowing the virus to spread in poorly regulated slaughterhouses located in densely populated neighborhoods, without any personal protective equipment or security requirements for the public,” Birnkrant added.
“To worsen things, the New York Department of Agriculture has a policy of not alerting the public or revealing which sacrifice markets have had avian flu shoots to ‘protect the affected facilities’. Protecting public health and preventing another pandemic seems not to be a priority.”
Despite the growing concern, neither Governor Hochul nor the Department of Agriculture have given significant public responses. Currently, none of the agencies have pledged to close the markets or reveal the affected locations.
Public health groups and animal rights continue to demand the closure of these markets until the avian flu crisis is under control and that the State begins to inform the public about the shoots of the outbreaks.
Nyclass declared that he will continue to press Hochul to close the markets indefinitely and end the policy of retaining public information.
