Ohio is the 12th state to report human H5 avian influenza case

Ohio state health officials have reported the state’s first probable human case of influenza A(H5) in an adult male Mercer County farm worker who was in contact with deceased commercial poultry was infected with the virus.

If confirmed, this would be the 69th human H5N1 avian influenza case in humans in the US from 12 states since 2024. One death was reported 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.”