The recent outbreak of High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, has caused alarm across Ohio's farming communities, particularly within the Miami Valley region. Nearly 4 million new cases of the virus have been reported, resulting in the swift depopulation of commercial birds to curb the outbreak's spread.
According to the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), detailed reports from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed over 3.7 million commercial chickens and more than 86,000 commercial turkeys have tested positive for the virus just within the span of January 23 and January 24, 2025. The alarming figures indicate significant losses for local poultry farmers and heightened anxiety over food supply chains.
Since the outbreak, over 1.9 million birds have already been “depopulated”—a term used to refer to the controlled killing of infected birds to prevent the spread of HPAI. The ODA's protocol involves quarantining affected facilities and then undertaking the difficult task of euthanizing the remaining birds. Ongoing operations are currently focused on depopulating another 1.8 million birds within impacted sites.
Despite the appalling numbers, the ODA also informed the public about additional measures being taken. At the beginning of January alone, 1.9 million commercial chickens and more than 72,000 commercial turkeys were depopulated, alongside the previous deaths of 930,000 commercial chickens recorded back in December 2024.
While the location of some of these farms remains undisclosed, affected areas identified include Darke and Mercer counties. Farmers and agricultural businesses are bracing for not just the immediate economic impacts but also the long-term consequences of such widespread infection.
Brian Baldridge of the ODA attributed the continuing spread of HPAI to wild birds frequenting areas near commercial poultry farms. He stated, "Wild birds, geese, any birds flying around, we kind of look at them as being a carrier of this disease." The implication here is clear: The interaction between domestic flocks and local wildlife poses significant risks for poultry health.
This outbreak isn't isolated; according to ODA's records, 6,050,026 commercial birds tested positive for bird flu across the Miami Valley throughout 2025. The scale of this epidemic raises many questions about the effectiveness of current preventive measures and the urgent need for stricter control protocols at facilities housing commercial bird populations.
Officials and farmers alike are keeping close tabs on the situation, and the potential for future outbreaks is on everyone's mind. The devastating effects of the virus not only mean loss of livestock but also threaten jobs, local economies, and food supply chains.
News Center 7 is committed to providing updates as the situation evolves. The ODA continues to work with farmers and producers to manage the outbreak effectively and to prevent another devastating recurrence.