New Jersey H5N1 - Bird Flu Information Page

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Last updated August 27, 2025
What you should know:

• There are no reported cases of human infection of H5N1 in NJ.
• The risk to humans is low, but people who have direct contact with infected animals should take precautions to lower risk of infection.
• CDC recommends that people working with infected animals wear personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE is available at each county’s Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office.
• If you find sick or dead wild birds, do not handle them. Contact the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Fish and Wildlife hotline using this online form: NJDEP Wild Bird Disease Reporting Form.
• If you suspect sick or dead poultry, do not handle them. Contact the NJ Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400.
• If you suspect that you or your pet may have H5N1, contact your local health department (www.localhealth.nj.gov).
• The commercial milk supply is safe. The New Jersey Departments of Health and Agriculture caution against the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products by humans and by pets. The USDA requires testing of all lactating dairy cattle being moved across state lines.
• CDC recommends that pet owners keep their pets away from wild birds and refrain from feeding their pets raw milk or raw pet food.
• For up-to-date federal guidance, see: CDC | H5N1 Bird flu: Current Situation Summary
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Continued: https://nj.gov/H5N1

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From X​
September 2, 2025
Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu, has been found in dairy cattle, poultry, and wild birds in multiple states. To avoid bird flu from spreading to pets, avoid giving them raw milk. Learn more: https://nj.gov/H5N1/ #HealthierNJ​



https://x.com/NJDeptofHealth/status/1962953794162999705

 

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H5N1 in New Jersey as of 10/31/25

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https://nj.gov/H5N1/

 

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New Jersey Department of Health
Last Reviewed: 2/18/2026

Novel Influenza


Health care providers, administrators, and clinical laboratory directors should report confirmed or suspect cases immediately to their Local Health Department by telephone.

Novel influenza infections are human infections with influenza A viruses that are different from currently circulating seasonal influenza (H1 and H3 viruses). Novel viruses include those that are subtyped as nonhuman in origin and those that are not able to be subtyped using standard laboratory methods and reagents. Human infections with an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine and not people are called variant viruses.

Human infections with variant viruses have been detected in the United States. Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian influenza A viruses that naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide. These viruses can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses after close contact with infected birds or animals have occurred.

Rapid detection and reporting of human infections with novel influenza A viruses is important to facilitate prompt awareness and characterization of influenza A viruses with pandemic potential and accelerate the implementation of effective public health responses.

The Department's Communicable Disease Service is working closely with state and federal partners to monitor the current H5N1 bird flu situation in wild birds, poultry and dairy cows, and will provide updates as information is available. Sporadic infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses in mammals have been reported in the United States, Canada, and other countries, but the risk to the general public from these viruses remains low. Currently there are no confirmed influenza A(H5N1) human cases in New Jersey
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H5N1 Bird flu: Current Situation Summary

• CDC: H5N1 Current Situation Summary

Disease Reporting

• Public Health Investigation Guidance for Avian Influenza A(H5N1)
• Investigation Checklist for Avian Influenza A(H5N1)
• Individual Risk Assessment Tool for Avian Influenza A(H5N1)
• Clinical Risk Assessment Tool for Avian Influenza A(H5N1)
• Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients(LINCS-1/16/25)
• First H5 Detection in Wastewater in New Jersey(LINCS-12/13/24)
• Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: Identification of Human Infection and Recommendations for Investigations and Response (CDC HAN 4/5/24)
• Variant Influenza Viruses in Humans (LINCS-7/28/23)
• Surveillance Criteria and Testing for Variant Influenza A in Humans
• CDC Novel Influenza A Case Report Form
• Persons Exposed and Symptom Monitoring Tool for Avian Influenza A (H5N1)

continued: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/novel_flu.shtml​