Ohio has recorded its first probable human case of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), better known as bird flu, the Ohio Department of Health confirmed. An adult male from Mercer County who worked on a farm with commercial poultry tested positive for influenza A(H5) after being exposed to infected deceased birds. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk this virus poses to the public remains low, there's heightened concern for individuals who come into repeated, unprotected contact with sick or dead birds.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio Department of Health have laid out strict guidelines to mitigate the spread of bird flu, especially for those in close quarters with poultry. Commercial poultry farmers are urged to keep their operations insular, minimizing contact between their birds and potentially infected wild ones. The importance of stringent biosecurity measures, such as using protective clothing and maintaining rigorous hygiene and sanitization standards, is stressed, particularly for anyone in frequent contact with live poultry. It was reported that a rodent and pest control program should be an integral part of these biosecurity protocols.
Currently, the United States has seen 68 confirmed human cases of HPAI across 11 states since the outset of 2024, including one fatality in Louisiana. In Ohio, the virus has affected one dairy herd and multiple poultry flocks since the outbreak in 2022, but there have been no instances of the disease transmitting from human to human. ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, has emphasized avoidance of unprotected exposure to potentially infected birds and recommended reaching out for guidance on personal protection and safe handling of sick or dead birds, stating, "While the risk to Ohioans is low, the best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead birds or to their environment," according to a statement obtained by the Ohio Department of Health.
The authorities also advise the public on food safety. Properly cooked poultry and pasteurized dairy products are safe to consume, as high temperatures kill bacteria and viruses. In case of exposure to a sick or dead bird, individuals should watch for any new respiratory symptoms and contact their healthcare provider or local health department should symptoms emerge. Ohio residents are encouraged to report sightings of sick or dead wild birds to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) at 1-800-WILDLIFE and similar incidents involving poultry to the ODA at 614-728-6220. More detailed bird flu information is available on the ODH and ODA websites.
The announcement comes as the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Agriculture work closely to safeguard the health of Ohioans and the state's livestock. They provide continued assurance that the state's public health system is responsive and that they are implementing the necessary measures to prevent the spread of diseases such as HPAI.
