Saturday, January 18th, 2025
3rd recorded bird flu outbreak in county
By Abigail Miller
CELINA - For the third day in a row, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detection in Mercer County. The case reported Thursday involved 1,432,007 commercial layers (chickens), according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's HPAI web page.
HPAI, commonly known as bird flu, is a contagious viral disease that poses a major threat to the poultry industry and animal health.
ODA does not identify individual farms during active cases, an ODA news release states. As required by ODA, the commercial facility in Mercer County where HPAI was detected is under quarantine.
The birds had not been depopulated as of Friday. The status of the outbreak is "ongoing," per ODA.
As defined on the USDA's HPAI page, "depopulation refers to the rapid destruction of a population of animals in response to urgent circumstances with as much consideration given to the welfare of the animals as practicable."
ODA set up a control area and surveillance zone at the location of the outbreak to monitor other facilities nearby and be sure USDA guidelines are followed. The control area and surveillance zones at the unidentified commercial facility in Mercer County remain active.
Thursday's outbreak marks the ninth detection of bird flu in Ohio and the third in Mercer County in 2025. There have also been six detections of bird flu in Darke County.
On Wednesday, the National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed a bird flu outbreak in Mercer County involving 10,434 commercial turkeys; a detection was confirmed in Darke County involving 15,780 commercial turkeys; a detection was confirmed in Darke County involving 5,255 commercial turkeys; and a detection was confirmed in Darke County involving 5,255 commercial turkeys.
On Tuesday, the laboratory confirmed a bird flu detection in Mercer County involving 4,525 commercial turkeys; and a bird flu detection in Darke County involving 9,901 commercial turkeys. On Jan. 9, a detection was confirmed in Darke County involving 21,132 commercial turkeys; and on Jan. 8, another detection was confirmed in Darke County involving 245,280 commercial layers (chickens).
All of the poultry involved in detections prior to Thursday's have since been depopulated, per the ODA HPAI web page. The unidentified sites of the detections in Darke and Mercer counties remain active control areas and surveillance zones.
HPAI occurs naturally in bird populations and is monitored closely by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center. Native Ohio birds such as shorebirds, raptors and waterfowl are vulnerable to HPAI. Domestic chickens and turkeys are also vulnerable to HPAI. The virus is transmitted from bird to bird through feeding and interactions.
The current risk to the general public regarding bird flu is low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the USDA, bird flu cannot be transmitted through properly cooked meats or eggs. Products from any HPAI-affected flocks are prohibited from entering the food system. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 degrees is recommended as a general food safety precaution.
