Ohio Reports First Human Case of Bird Flu

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health reported the state’s first probable human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1 or bird flu. An adult male Mercer County farm worker who was in contact with deceased commercial poultry was infected with the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers the current risk of bird flu for the general public to be low. However, people with close and prolonged unprotected contact with infected birds are at greater risk.

GUIDANCE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC. The risk of acquiring bird flu to the general U.S. population is low, said the Ohio Department of Health. The best way to prevent bird flu is to avoid direct contact with wild birds or sick or dead poultry or other animals.

Contact your local health department or local veterinarian for further guidance before you approach sick or dead poultry or wild birds.

GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WHO WORK WITH POULTRY. Commercial poultry owners should practice good biosecurity and prevent contact between their poultry and wild birds, specifically migratory waterfowl. 

Avoid handling sick birds or other animals. Ohioans should immediately report unusual signs of disease or unexpected deaths to Ohio Poultry Association at (614) 882-6111 or the Ohio Department of Agriculture at (614) 728-6220 or after hours at (888) 456-3405. 

According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, best biosecurity practices for commercial poultry owners include:

• Prevent Contact with wild birds and waterfowl. Keep birds indoors when possible. Add wildlife management practices around your farm. hpaifactsheet_wildlife-biosecurity.pdf (usda.gov)
• Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those who care for your poultry to have contact with them and make sure they follow biosecurity principles.
• Wash your hands before and after contact with live poultry. Use soap and water. If using a hand sanitizer, first remove manure, feathers and other materials from your hands.
• Provide disposable boot covers (preferred) and/or disinfectant footbaths for anyone having contact with your flock. If using a footbath, remove all droppings, mud or debris from boots and shoes using a long-handled brush BEFORE stepping in. Always keep it clean.
• Establish a rodent and pest control program. Deliver, store and maintain feed, ingredients, bedding and litter to limit exposure to and contamination from wild animals.
• Use drinking water sourced from a contained supply (well or municipal system). Do not use surface water for drinking or cleaning. 
• Clean and disinfect tools and equipment before moving them to a new poultry facility. Trucks, tractors, tools and equipment should be cleaned and disinfected prior to exiting the property. Do not move or reuse anything that cannot be cleaned.
• Look for signs of illness. Monitor egg production and death loss, discoloration and/or swelling of legs, wattles and combs, labored breathing, reduced feed/water consumption.

More information about best biosecurity practices can be found on the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) websites.

BACKGROUND ON BIRD FLU CASES IN HUMANS. Nationally, there have been 68 confirmed human cases of HPAI in 11 states since the beginning of 2024, which included one death in Louisiana. All but three of these cases involved exposures related to commercial agriculture and related operations or wild birds.

In Ohio, one dairy herd and numerous poultry flocks have been infected since the outbreak began in 2022.

There are no known cases of human-to-human transmission.

“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,” said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “People should avoid direct contact with poultry or wild birds and take proper precautions, including reaching out for guidance regarding personal protection and safe handling, if you must be around sick or dead birds.”

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. It is safe to eat properly cooked poultry and pasteurized dairy products. Generally, people should follow food safety practices — poultry, eggs and beef should be cooked to a safe internal temperature to kill bacteria and viruses. The CDC's safer foods table contains a complete list of safe internal temperatures.

If people have been exposed to a sick or dead bird, they should monitor themselves for any new respiratory symptoms and contact their healthcare provider or local health department should they develop symptoms. Ohioans can report sick or dead wild birds to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) at 1-800-WILDLIFE and sick or dead poultry to the ODA at 614-728-6220.

More information on HPAI can be found on both the ODH and ODA websites.