Ohio State researcher takes part in CDC bird flu study
The study suggests bird flu cases are undercounted. The OSU researcher said that's not necessarily a reason to be alarmed.
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'So, bird flu is influenza viruses that are in avian species and so the one that we are monitoring, that we're seeing a lot of outbreaks is a specific strain of influenza viruses,' Jacqueline Nolting, an assistant professor and animal health and biosecurity extension specialist at the College of Veterinary Medicine, said.
The strain – H5N1 — affects poultry, dairy cows and wild birds.
'The most, you know, risk is for people who are working with animals that are infected,' Nolting said.
Nolting was one of the researchers who helped the CDC with its latest study. According to the CDC, more than 60 confirmed human cases of the bird flu in the U.S. have been reported with one fatality.
'It's probably, you know, a tip of the iceberg as indicated by some of those antibody studies,' Nolting said.
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She said it's likely that more people have been exposed and infected, but didn't get sick, which she said is good news. Right now, the main concern is the number of spillovers we're seeing.
'Within the last 30 days, I think it was USDA reported 56 premises in Ohio that have been confirmed, poultry premises and so having those continued spillovers from wild birds is definitely a concern,' Nolting said. 'The number of farms and the number of poultry that are being affected by this virus is definitely of concern.'
Nolting said that for the general public, it's really unlikely they'd be exposed to the virus. She also said that as of right now, there is no indication that this virus can spread from human to human.
'People that maybe, like, hunt birds or are, you know, wildlife biologists, for instance, if they're coming across to sick or dead birds in the general public as well, like you see a dead Canada goose, don't go touch it, you know, don't let your kids touch it,' she said.
Nolting said the most common symptom of bird flu is conjunctivitis. In addition to that, people may experience typical influenza signs.
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'We would be looking for, you know, runny nose, coughing, body aches, fever, things like that,' she said.
Anyone who tested positive would likely be started on Tamiflu treatment and it's recommended they try to rest and quarantine themselves.
Nolting said that despite the bird flu hitting Ohio hard, poultry products are still safe to consume. Just make sure to clean up your workspace, wash your hands after touching raw meat and cook the food at the appropriate temperatures.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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