The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), along with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), local health departments, and federal partners, are working to investigate a confirmed human case of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza A or HPAI A(H5N1), also known as bird flu.

On December 12, 2024, DATCP confirmed a case of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza A or HPAI A(H5N1) in a commercial poultry flock in Barron County, Wisconsin.
On December 18, 2024, DHS received report of a presumptive positive case of HPAI A(H5N1) in a farm worker of Barron County, Wisconsin. DHS is actively coordinating with Barron County Health and Human Services, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), and DATCP to identify and monitor those who may have been exposed.
On December 20, 2024, DHS received test results from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) on specimens collected from the presumptive positive human case of HPAI A(H5). Results of the test confirm HPAI A(H5), and the case will now be reported to the CDC as a confirmed human case of HPAI A(H5).
According to the CDC, the current HPAI A(H5N1) situation continues to pose a low risk to general community members. HPAI viruses do not pose a food safety risk. Properly cooking meat and eggs to the recommended internal temperature of 165?F kills HPAI viruses, as does pasteurizing milk.