By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Ohio – the leader in bird flu outbreaks in the U.S. – had its first human case of bird flu reported last week.
The Ohio Department of Health announced Wednesday that a man from Mercer County who works on a farm came into contact with deceased poultry that was infected with the virus. Mercer County is located about 100 miles southwest of Wood County.
As of Friday, the severity of the case had not been released.
“The risk to the general public is still thought to be low,” Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison reported Thursday during the monthly meeting of the Wood County Board of Health.
In April of 2024, Wood County was the site of the first case of bird flu in a livestock operation in Ohio.
An estimated 10 percent of the dairy herd was contaminated. When contacted by BG Independent News last April, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian 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.
State and local veterinarians worked with the owner of the Wood County dairy to isolate the cows that were recovering from the illness, Baldridge said. Milking of the infected cows continued, but the milk didn’t go through the production line, he said.
Despite the low risk to humans, ODH has advised people should avoid direct contact with wild birds or sick or dead poultry or other animals.
There have been 68 human cases of bird flu reported in 11 states, including one death in Louisiana. All but three of those cases were in connection with exposure to commercial agriculture and related operations or wild birds, according to the ODH.
Ohio has experienced the highest levels of bird flu outbreaks in the nation. There have been nearly 40 commercial flocks and 8.7 million birds affected in the state, according to USDA data.
The bird flu, also known as avian influenza or H5N1 virus, may lead infected poultry to have no symptoms, mild illness, serious illness, or lead to death of the bird. 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.
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 said poultry owners and farmers should wear personal protective equipment like gloves, N95 masks, and eye protection. Workers should wash their hands properly after touching sick birds.
The ODH said it is still safe to eat poultry and dairy products as long as they are properly prepared – cooked at an appropriate internal temperature that kills bacteria and viruses.
Of the 68 human cases reported so far:
– 41 were exposed to commercial dairy herds.
– 23 were exposed to commercial poultry farms and culling operations.
– 1 was exposed to an “other animal source,” which could include backyard flocks, wild birds or other mammals.
– 3 were exposed to an unknown source.
