Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to spread in Ohio, with five new commercial poultry flock infections there being reported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS also reported a new instance of HPAI in Arizona.

A concerning number of dead geese have been discovered along the Tuscarawas River in Summit County, alarming residents and prompting an investigation by wildlife officials.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today confirmed more H5N1 avian flu detections in poultry from four states, including several in hard-hit Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has confirmed 26 farms have been affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza — also known as bird flu. All 26 of those farms are in the Miami Valley, located in Darke and Mercer Counties.

At the same time, high prices of poultry products and eggs in grocery stores - exacerbated by the impact of bird flu on flocks - are driving more shoppers to consider purchasing from local producers.

The presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in 16 commercial poultry flocks in the United States over a two-day period.

Ohio leads the nation in recent bird flu cases among commercial poultry operations, with more than 4.1 million chickens and turkeys affected so far this year.

Avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in 1,432,000 chickens in Mercer County, , according to the USDA, just weeks after the Ohio Department of Agriculture confirmed the infection of 931,302 birds in

Bird flu has been detected in another commercial flock in western Ohio. The USDA confirmed that 1.4 million egg-laying chickens in Mercer County are affected by the virus. This comes weeks after avian influenza was detected in a large flock in nearby Darke County.

Both H5N9 and H5N1 were detected at the duck farm in Merced County, according to tests conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory. The event began on November 23, with clinical signs that included increased deaths in the ducks.

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is suspected to be spreading among wild birds in Stark County, according to ODNR.