Presumptive Bird Flu Detected in Cumberland County; Avoid Dead Wild Birds

State and local wildlife and public-health officials reported presumptive detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in several New Jersey counties this week, with preliminary positives named in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, and officials urging residents to avoid contact with dead wild birds and report carcasses to the state.

The Camden County Department of Health and Human Services said it is “currently monitoring the spread of bird flu throughout New Jersey” and that “the current public health risk to residents remains low, but state and local agencies continue to monitor the situation closely. To date, no human or domestic animal cases of H5N1 have been reported in Camden County.” Camden’s release noted that, as of the county statement, no birds in Camden County have tested positive.

Camden County provided local surveillance details: between February 14 and February 16, 2026, “more than 1,100 dead or sick wild birds were reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.” The county said most reports involved Canadian geese and that Gloucester Township reported approximately 10–20 dead geese in that same timeframe. Camden also noted an earlier environmental signal: “In March 2025, levels of avian influenza were detected in our local wastewater.”

Camden’s release relayed a testing-policy observation about state operations, saying “At this time, NJDEP is unlikely to conduct additional avian flu testing in areas where the virus has already been detected.” Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services, added: “We are working closely with the NJDEP to ensure that deceased birds are being reported to the state, and disposed of properly.” She further said, “At this time, there have been no human or domestic animal cases of bird flu in Camden County, but we will continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as necessary.”

The outbreak has broader regional and national dimensions. WHYY reported that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has recorded large losses, noting roughly 7.4 million birds in 13 commercial flocks infected in Pennsylvania in the past month and characterizing the recent state total as over 7 million in the past 30 days. WHYY also cited USDA figures showing that since the virus was detected in a flock in February 2022, “more than 195 million birds have been affected.” At a Tuesday press conference at the Lancaster County Rapid Response Center, Gov. Josh Shapiro said, “Whether it spreads from here somewhere else or from somewhere else here, that’s why we take this so seriously,” and he discussed federal coordination and vaccine prospects. Shapiro noted federal staffing support, saying the USDA provided 42 employees to assist 55 state personnel, including veterinarians, and he added, “I think they also understand the importance of figuring out how to get a vaccine out there … perhaps as a pilot over the course of the next few months.” He cautioned that federal trade and regulatory factors mean a rollout “could likely take months.”

Local officials in Camden emphasized actionable steps: do not handle dead wild birds, report deceased birds to the state, and follow proper disposal procedures coordinated with NJDEP. County and state agencies say they will continue surveillance and provide updates as testing and federal-state response evolve.