Live poultry markets in New York City raced to sell off all their chickens and other fowl Friday after seven cases of avian flu were detected and state officials ordered markets in the metropolitan area to close for a week.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a weeklong shutdown of all live poultry markets in New York City, Westchester County and on Long Island in an effort to thwart transmission of bird flu.

State officials said there was no immediate threat to human health and the temporary restrictions were meant to be proactive.