The order affects roughly 80 markets in New York City and in several nearby counties. Gov. Kathy Hochul described it as a “proactive” step to help curb the spread of bird flu.

O n Feb. 7, New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued an order to temporarily close live bird markets after seven cases of avian influenza, or bird flu, were detected in markets in Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx in the past week. The closures apply to bird markets in New York City, Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau counties.

Live poultry markets in New York City raced to sell off all their chickens and other fowl Friday after seven cases of avian flu were detected and state officials ordered markets in the metropolitan area to close for a week.