NEW YORK (AP) — All live poultry markets in New York City and some of its suburbs were ordered Friday to close for a week after the detection of seven cases of avian flu, which has also hit farms nationwide, led to the slaughter of millions of birds and driven up egg prices.

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.

While certainly making media buzz now, Western Kentucky University Biology Professor Noah Ashley explained bird flu has been around for decades, however this strain is packing more of a punch.

Bird flu is infecting more people than we think. We need to stop it now before a new pandemic begins Right after President Donald Trump took office, amid the flurry of executive orders and agency upheavals,