What You Need To Know
As part of ongoing avian influenza A(H5N1) response efforts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Jersey Department of Health’s (NJDOH) Communicable Disease Service (CDS) are monitoring wastewater. On December 6, 2024, influenza A(H5) was detected in wastewater from a Monmouth County treatment plant—the first such detection at this site and in New Jersey. A subsequent sample taken on December 9, 2024, at the same site was negative.
- Wastewater testing cannot pinpoint the H5 virus source (human, animal, bird, or animal product like milk). H5 detection in wastewater warrants further investigation but does not necessarily indicate human cases or widespread transmission.
- Similar singular detections have been seen in other eastern states and while migratory wild birds could be a possible explanation, the source remains unknown.
- There have not been any influenza A(H5) human cases, dairy cattle detections or recent domestic poultry or wild bird detections in NJ.
- There has not been any unusual human influenza activity in New Jersey, including Monmouth County. We are seeing seasonal influenza increases in Monmouth County that are consistent with the Central East region and the rest of the state for this time of the year.
- NJDOH is collaborating with the Monmouth County Health Department, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and CDC to review wastewater data in combination with other human and animal surveillance data to monitor unusual increases.
- While the risk to public remains low, NJDOH will continue to monitor the situation and requests the healthcare community to remain vigilant and take actions as outlined in the attached document.