After poultry markets in New York City were ordered to temporarily close for disinfection, could New Jersey follow suit, as bird flu concerns grow?2

There’s currently no mandate from the state for chicken markets to shut down. However, the state’s Department of Agriculture has asked for those businesses to do a voluntary cleaning and disinfection of their markets and equipment.

At Halal Live Poultry in Perth Amboy, a sign in both English and Spanish stated the shop was closed for inspection. Old Bridge resident Muhammad Aamir shops there regularly but couldn’t do any shopping on Monday.

"I just came here to find out that it was closed, not sure what is the reason. I actually tried calling them as well but no answer. Now I’m heading to another just to see if they are open and I can get something today,” Aamir said.

Just a few blocks away at Daniela’s Vivero Polleria another sign also stated that the business is closed. It was the same deal at Rahma Halal Live Poultry in Somerset.

According to the Department of Agriculture, there haven’t been any cases of bird flu in poultry at live markets or backyard flocks in New Jersey. These closures are out of an abundance of caution.

In a statement, the agency said in part, “In response to the HPAI cases in New York City, we have asked that live bird markets in New Jersey do a voluntary cleaning and disinfection of their market and equipment and then wait a prescribed downtime per industry protocols before restocking their markets."

Distributors to live bird markets have also been asked to do a cleaning and disinfection of their facilities.

On Friday in New York City, Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered a temporary closure of live poultry markets after the bird flu was detected in Queens, The Bronx and Brooklyn. Businesses in New York City have been ordered to close until Friday the 14th for a complete disinfection.

Back in New Jersey, shoppers like Aamir, say they hope their local chicken spots will reopen soon.

"Hopefully everything is good, but I might visit them tomorrow again,” he says.

The markets will likely still be closed on Tuesday. The Department of Agriculture’s Division of Animal Health says they regularly test live bird markets and backyard flocks. Markets and their distributors will undergo follow-up testing.