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.

As a precaution, over the last two weeks, we have moved vulnerable bird species to protected areas in our parks,” officials said in a statement. On Friday, state officials ordered bird markets in the metropolitan area to close for a week after seven cases of avian flu were detected during routine inspections in the Bronx,

The nationwide bird flu outbreak has hit two New York City zoos amid growing concern about the virus dangers and a sharp rise in egg prices. NBC News' Shaquille Brewster reports.