NEW YORK (WWTI) – A small number of wild birds in New York City carry highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, according to a study published in the Journal of Virology,.
The work makes it clear that the link between animals and humans that may give rise to zoonotic infections or even pandemics are not limited to rural environments and commercial poultry operations, but also extend to urban centers.
“To my knowledge, this is the first large-scale U.S. study of avian influenza in an urban area, and the first with active community involvement,” said study co-author Christine Marizzi, Ph.D., principal investigator of the New York City Virus Hunters (NYCVH) Program, and BioBus director of community science, Harlem, New York City. “Birds are key to finding out which influenza and other avian viruses are circulating in the New York City area, as well as important for understanding which ones can be dangerous to both other birds and humans. And we need more eyes on the ground—that’s why community involvement is really critical.”
The study came out of a program monitoring wild birds, which is a partnership between BioBus, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Wild Bird Fund. Through the program, local high school students partook in the research and communication efforts as paid interns under mentorship.
Wearing appropriate protective gear, the students collected bird fecal samples in urban parks and green spaces. Additional samples from wild urban birds were submitted to the study by local animal rehabilitation centers such as the Wild Bird Fund and Animal Care Centers of New York. Students then helped to screen all samples in the Krammer laboratory at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for viruses.
In the study, the NYCVH collected and screened 1,927 samples between January 2022 and November 2023 and found the H5N1 signal by detecting it in six city birds represented by four separate species, all the positive samples came from the urban wildlife rehabilitation centers.
By comparing the genetic makeup of the samples to each other and other available H5N1 viruses in a public database, the researchers found that they were slightly different and belonged to two different genotypes. NYC is a popular stopover location for migrating birds during their journey.
“It is important to mention that, because we found H5N1 in city birds, this does not signal the start of a human influenza pandemic. We know that H5N1 has been around in New York City for about two years and there have been no human cases reported,” said Marizzi.
Marizzi said that in their outreach, they spread awareness about H5N1 in city birds and provide information about what people can do to protect themselves. “It’s smart to stay alert and stay away from wildlife. This also includes preventing your pets from getting in close contact with wildlife,” said Marizzi. If one must handle wildlife, it is important to always use safe practices any time when handling sick or injured animals.
