As bird flu cases inundate more poultry and dairy farms, state officials worry that the Trump administration’s firings of federal scientists and other actions will undermine efforts to track the virus and protect Americans.

Since the beginning of this year, Ohio poultry farmers have culled almost 11 million birds infected with avian flu according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In an update to state lawmakers, Ohio Poultry Association Executive Vice President Jim Chakeres said the virus has “wreaked havoc” on commercial flocks, particularly in far west Darke and Mercer Counties.

The Ohio Department of Health is reporting the state’s first probable human case of influenza A(H5), also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu.

The Louisiana patient who contracted what officials said was the nation’s first “severe” case of avian influenza has died, the state health department said Monday.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the start of its National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS), which builds on measures taken by USDA and federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in dairy cattle was first detected in March 2024.