Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Detected in Birds in New York City | 17 May 2024 | A community science project, called the New York City Virus Hunters (NYCVH) Program, has published research that shows a small number of birds flying through the big apple over the last few years were infected with a highly contagious strain of avian influenza. Between 2022 and 2023, volunteers collected 1,927 bird poop samples from various urban parks and green spaces scattered across the city, as well as some samples from animal rehabilitation centers. In total, samples from six birds tested positive for the virus, including a red-tailed hawk, three Canada geese, a peregrine falcon, and a chicken... While findings suggest the latest highly pathogenic avian influenza strains have been in New York for at least two years already, no human cases have been reported, which means a spillover event is probably rare.