By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County Health Department will include backyard flocks as the agency hatches avian flu preparedness plans.
The board of health learned on Thursday that the health department had received funding for avian flu preparedness. The $50,000 will be used to collaborate with other counties in the region and build relationships with the agricultural community, according to Pat Snyder, who is in charge of health promotion and preparedness at the Wood County Health Department.
Health board member Richard Strow noted the large number of Wood County residents with backyard flocks of chickens. The trend surged during the COVID pandemic, and is growing again with the escalating prices of eggs.
He urged the health department to focus some of the planning on backyard chickens.
People with backyard flocks often get attached to the chickens, and many are concerned about their chickens getting sick from the avian flu, said Strow, who knows from personal experience. His family’s chickens all have names, he said, adding “that tells you all you need to know.”
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, owners of backyard flocks are encouraged to stay informed about where bird flu is occurring. In regions experiencing outbreaks, certain precautions can help stop the viruses from spreading:
- Ensure areas where backyard birds are kept are fully enclosed, away from wild birds and their droppings.
- Wash or sanitize your hands before and after handling birds, and when moving birds between coops.
- Keep feed, drinking water, equipment, and other supplies secure, out of reach of wild birds or rodents.
- Prevent visitors from contacting your flock, and avoid visits to places where other birds are kept.
- Know the signs of the bird flu, and immediately report any suspected infections to your veterinarian or state animal health official.
- Call your veterinarian first, before bringing birds in to be seen.
Earlier this month, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine promised to push federal officials to provide greater support to farmers affected by bird flu.
In February, the Trump administration reportedly accidentally fired 25% of the federal workers handling the country’s bird flu response. The new administration also halted the release of public health information related to bird flu virus and studies to help reduce its spread.
Avian influenza has been spreading throughout the country since the beginning of 2022, but a recent spike has hit Ohio farmers particularly hard. According to USDA data, Ohio has culled nearly 14.5 million birds since the beginning of this year alone. That’s more than double any other state over that timeframe.
The bird flu rarely infects humans, and people usually catch the virus from being in close, long-term contact with live poultry, typically on farms or in backyard coops. Ohio had its first human case of bird flu reported last month. A man from Mercer County who works on a farm came into contact with deceased poultry that was infected with the virus.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans can vary. They can include fever, muscle aches, headaches, coughs, and sore throat. The more severe symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and extreme tiredness.
In guidance for people who work with birds, the ODH advised poultry owners and farmers to wear personal protective equipment like gloves, N95 masks, and eye protection. Workers should wash their hands properly after touching sick birds.
During a recent press conference with DeWine, Ohio Agricultural Director Brian Baldridge said more than 30% of the chickens laying eggs every day have been culled in Ohio. DeWine said that once farmers detect a bird flu case there’s little they can do besides kill the flock.
In April of 2024, a Wood County dairy was the site of the first case of bird flu in a livestock operation in Ohio.
An estimated 10% of the dairy herd was contaminated. When contacted by BG Independent News last April, Baldridge would not identify the dairy operation where the bird flu was found, but said it was a “large dairy.” Some large dairy operations in Wood County have as many as 4,000 cows.
The local dairy operation reportedly received cows a month earlier from a Texas dairy, which later reported a confirmed detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza among its livestock. Baldridge said the cows transported to Wood County came from “ground zero” of the bird flu cases.
Once in Wood County, some of the cows began showing signs of bird flu – decreased appetites followed by significantly decreased milk production, Baldridge said.
The cows tested positive for avian flu, and ODA sent the results to a USDA lab for confirmation. No lockdown orders were issued since the farm was self-containing the infected cows, Baldridge said.
