The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation confirms to News 12 that there are currently five preliminary positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Suffolk County.

Officials say additional bird specimens throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties have been retrieved by DEC wildlife experts and are currently awaiting testing.

Species testing positive include snow geese, buffleheads and hooded mergansers.

Sweetbriar Nature Center says just last week, it had over 25 suspected avian influenza cases admitted to its hospital. The nature center says suspected cases must be humanely euthanized because there is no way to contain the infection in wild birds.

In Huntington, a dozen geese were found dead in Heckscher Park. Testing is still being performed to determine if the geese had bird flu.

State officials say bird flu cases typically peak in the winter months before decreasing in late spring and into the summer.

The risk to humans is low, but New Yorkers are urged to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and animals and report anything unusual to the DEC. Click here to report a case of bird flu.