According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, Ohio poultry farmers have culled nearly 11 million avian flu-infected birds since the start of this year. Jim Chakeres, executive vice president of the Ohio Poultry Association, told state senators that the virus has severely damaged commercial flocks, especially in Mercer and Darke Counties in the far west.
Ohio continues to have higher rates of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2025 than the national average. According to the most recent report from the Ohio Capital Journal, which includes USDA statistics through February 10, there were 10.9 million birds killed as of February 14—four million more than the next closest state, Indiana, and around half a million more than Ohio.
The first human case of bird flu has been reported by Ohio health officials.
Since the start of 2024, there have been 68 confirmed instances of bird flu in humans, and the virus has spread from birds to cows. One of those incidents ended in death in Louisiana, and another occurred in Ohio. However, according to federal and state health experts, there have been no cases of person-to-person transmission and the hazards to the public’s health are still minimal.
Farmers are fighting for their survival, Chakeres told the Ohio House Agriculture Committee, but he also highlighted the good things.
Since our infection rate has considerably decreased in recent days, I am a little optimistic that we may be able to move past this, he added. We can see the end of the tunnel, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
He mentioned that they haven’t reported a new instance for two days in a succession, but he will feel much more at ease if we have two weeks together.
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Chakeres emphasized that scientists with the Ohio Department of Agriculture are crucial to his sector.
He stated that in order to do those laboratory tests, we now need more people in those chairs.
He called Ohio’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab their first line of detection and stated that it is very important in surveillance operations. The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s animal health initiatives provide funding for the lab. Although work is now ongoing, the enlarged facility is not anticipated to operate until 2026. Poultry inspections are also covered by a different, smaller state budget fund that is maintained by the department.
The governor’s first budget proposal would boost funding for animal health initiatives by almost 6%, to little over $8 million in year one and $8.2 million in year two. Inspections of poultry would rise somewhat in both years, reaching little about $1 million a year.
Rep. Joseph Miller, D-Amherst, pressed Chakeres on whether such amount is sufficient, and Chakeres responded bluntly.
In the end, he answered, “No, that is not enough money.” There, we require a great deal more funding.
He clarified that even though the lab is operating twelve hours a day, six days a week, they are still capable of more. They are hiring temporary employees. We’re making ends meet, you know, but in my view—and on behalf of my farmers—that’s not enough.
At the same time, government staffing appears to be in jeopardy.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency prompted incoming Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to unveil an ambitious plan last Friday to maximize USDA’s staff. The agency informed a number of employees that they were being let go over the weekend, but they changed their minds when it became apparent that they were working on avian flu response.
In order to continue supporting the (highly pathogenic avian influenza) response and other animal health priorities, a USDA spokesperson said in a statement that several job categories, such as veterinarians, animal health technicians, and other emergency response personnel in USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), have been exempt from the recent personnel actions.
We are working to quickly correct the situation and revoke the letters that informed numerous APHIS jobs supporting (avian influenza) of their terminations over the weekend.
USDA officials did not respond when asked by the Capital Journal if any of those employees are based in Ohio.
Chakeres also offered a straightforward request that might have important ramifications.
He stated that our birds require a vaccine against avian flu.
He clarified that there are implementation and international trade issues when it comes to vaccinating poultry flocks because there isn’t enough vaccine available.
According to our trading partners, if we begin vaccinating against this, then the sickness has indeed spread throughout the United States, he clarified. Consequently, we forfeit some of that export potential if we vaccinate any commercial poultry birds in the United States.
However, he also contended that it is an excellent instrument for combating the infection.
As a comparison, he suggested, try building a house without a hammer.
The World Organization for Animal Health argues that vaccination shouldn’t be a barrier to international trade, and some nations already provide vaccinations. However, a lot of importers are concerned about taking vaccinated poultry. In response to their immunization efforts, the United States, for example, last month lowered trade restrictions it imposed on France and the European Union in 2023.
USDA has been reluctant to support vaccination efforts, despite last week’s provisional license being issued for an avian influenza vaccine. It gathered a vaccination stockpile in 2016 but never used it.
Chakeres contended that in order to defend the broiler trade, federal trade officials should push for the adoption of a vaccine compartmentalization strategy that would permit vaccination on farms that produce eggs and turkeys. All international trading partners should accept chicken meat and goods made from unvaccinated animals.
Follow Xoron Bluesky, a reporter for the Ohio Capital Journal.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.