COLUMBUS, OHIO (WLIO) - The bird flu has severely impacted poultry farms in western Ohio this year, with Mercer and Darke counties bearing the brunt of the outbreak.
According to data from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, more than six million chickens and turkeys have been affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on farms in the region.
Ohio currently leads the nation in the number of bird flu cases reported at commercial operations. In response to the outbreak, more than four million birds have been culled to prevent the virus from spreading further, and the status of nearly two million additional birds remains uncertain, according to state officials.
Ohio is the second-largest egg-producing state in the country, following Iowa.
Ohio is the second-largest egg-producing state in the country, following Iowa. The outbreak has dealt a significant blow to the state’s poultry industry, with 22 operations in Mercer and Darke counties impacted by HPAI in 2025. This follows the destruction of nearly one million chickens at a Darke County farm in late 2024 due to the bird flu.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture continues to monitor the situation and implement measures to contain the outbreak and protect the state’s vital poultry industry.
