LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Crescent Duck Farm, the last commercial duck farm on Long Island, has begun euthanizing more than 100,000 ducks after a bird flu outbreak was detected, officials said.
The Suffolk County Department of Health confirmed the presence of bird flu on January 17 after the farm owner noticed signs of illness among the flock. The farm, located in Aquebogue, about 66 miles east of New York City, has ceased operations, and the culling process is expected to take over a week.
“When you have a flock that’s infected, the remedy is to put the entire flock down,” said Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott.
As of Friday, no cases of bird flu have been reported among farm workers. Health officials are conducting interviews, testing, and providing preventive medications, including Tamiflu, to individuals with high-risk exposure. Educational resources on proper hygiene and personal protective equipment have also been provided to the farm owner.
“The risk to public health is minimal as the virus at this point is not transmissible among humans,” Pigott stated. He added that an investigation is underway to evaluate the potential for transmission from infected birds to workers who had close contact with the flock.
The H5N1 bird flu has caused outbreaks across the U.S., including in poultry and dairy operations. While human cases remain rare, 67 cases have been confirmed in 10 states since April 2024, according to the CDC. Most cases have been mild, with just one death reported in Louisiana.
The CDC and public health officials emphasize that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission, and the risk to the general public remains low.
