#18,614
Over the past 30 days poultry farms in the state of Ohio have been hit unusually hard by HPAI H5N1, with more than 50 commercial flocks - involving > 10 million birds - affected. Culling, and disposal, of infected chickens is a known risk factor for contracting HPAI, and overnight the Ohio Health Department has announced their first probable case.
This is the second new case announced this week (see Central Nevada Health Dept Confirms 1st Human H5N1 Infection), after several weeks without any new cases added to the CDC's list.While the Nevada case has already been confirmed by the CDC's lab, we've not seen any statement on this latest probable case.
In addition to these 68 confirmed cases, there are a handful (n=7) of `probable' cases that tested positive at the state level, but remain unconfirmed by the CDC's labs. Serological testing (see MMWR report) has also revealed a number of apparent subclinical infections among farmworkers, and they are not included either.
As is increasingly common, very little information on the actual case (onset date, symptoms, current condition, etc.) is provided. Most of the press release is designed to reassure the public that the risk of infection is `low', and that the food supply is safe.
Admittedly, most of the cases in North America over the past 11 months have been uncharacteristically mild. Only two cases (both genotype D1.1) have been severe (with 1 fatality).
The full press release from the Ohio Health Department follows. I'll have a bit more after the break.
Ohio Reports First Human Case of Bird Flu
February 12, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
ODH Office of Communications 614-644-8562
Ohio Department of Agriculture 614-448-7219
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)— The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the state’s first probable human case of influenza A(H5), also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), 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 the General Public
The risk of acquiring bird flu to the general U.S. population is low. 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.
*** REVISED *** 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 and 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 both 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.
Currently, you are probably more likely to be injured vying for that last carton of eggs at the supermarket than from avian flu - but still - the risks are not zero. There is a lot of virus in the environment, and not every human infection has been linked to contact with farm animals.
Last August the WHO published Interim Guidance to Reduce the Risk of Infection in People Exposed to Avian Influenza Viruses, which lists a number of `risk factors', including:
- keep live poultry in their backyards or homes, or who purchase live birds at markets;
- slaughter, de-feather and/or butcher poultry or other animals at home;
People who have pets that are allowed to roam outdoors may be a greater risk, along with anyone who deals with animal rescue or re-homing operations (see California: San Mateo County Warns Residents After Stray Cat Found With H5N1).
- handle and prepare raw poultry for further cooking and consumption;
The thing about risk is, it can change abruptly. And given the limits of surveillance and reporting, a specific risk may be elevated for days or even weeks before we learn about it.
While I dislike the phrase `the new normal', as long as HPAI H5 continues to circulate at high levels, this is likely to remain our new reality.