DARKE COUNTY, OH – Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, alongside state agriculture officials, is urging the federal government to step up efforts to combat the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, as Ohio faces the highest number of cases in the country.
“Over 30% of our layer birds in Ohio have been depopulated—those are the birds that lay eggs. This has had a tremendous impact on our poultry industry,” said Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Since Christmas Eve, more than 15.5 million birds across Ohio have either tested positive or been exposed to the virus, leading to mass culling efforts. Mercer and Darke counties currently have the highest number of cases.
At a press conference in Darke County on Thursday, DeWine emphasized the need for accelerated federal research to mitigate the spread of the virus.
“The federal government is going to have to accelerate the research that is being done in regard to bird flu,” DeWine stated.
State officials are particularly focused on vaccination strategies for poultry, which they believe could be a key tool in stopping the virus’s spread.
“The USDA is going to continue working on ensuring that a vaccine is safe, effective, and provides the immunity we need for poultry flocks,” said Dr. Dennis Summers, Ohio’s state veterinarian.
With bird flu fatality rates ranging between 90% to 100%, the outbreak has significantly impacted egg production and supply chains across the state.
“When supply decreases as much as it has, and demand remains the same, it’s difficult to recover until we get back into production,” said Jim Chakeres of the Ohio Poultry Association.
Despite the setbacks, Chakeres remains hopeful, noting that farmers are actively working to clean and disinfect their facilities to resume egg production as soon as possible.
“Our farmers are working every day to get those farms cleaned and disinfected so they can repopulate and start producing eggs again,” he said.
As state officials push for federal assistance, Ohio’s poultry industry continues to navigate one of its most challenging crises in recent history.
