The first human case of bird flu in Ohio was reported in a farm worker from Mercer County. There have been 68 human cases of bird flu in 11 states since January 1, 2024, including one death in Louisiana. The overall risk of contracting bird flu remains low, but those in close contact with infected poultry should take precautions.

Roughly 10.3 million Ohio chickens have been impacted by bird flu in the last 30 days, making up more than a third of the national outbreak's recent victims as the disease continues to ravage livestock around the country.

Ohio has led the nation recently in the number of commercial birds affected by the bird flu. Mercer County, in the western part of the state, is among four counties there where bird flu has been detected in commercial poultry flocks,