First human case of Bird Flu in Ohio

From Gazette staff reports

The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the state’s first probable human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu. The Mercer county resident worked at a commercial poultry farm and was in contact with deceased commercial poultry. The risk to most Ohioans for contracting bird flu is low, but those in close, unprotected contact with sick or dead poultry or wild birds are at greater risk and should take precautions. 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 …

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