BOARDMAN — In recent weeks, Ohio has emerged as the leading state in cases of bird flu in poultry, and at least one human case now has been documented.

As spring brings migratory birds back to the state and the Mahoning Valley — many of which are expected to carry the virus — Boardman officials are taking precautions to protect residents and livestock populations from the disease. So, the township zoning department has put all livestock permits on hold indefinitely.

Trustees last week approved the motion by Zoning Inspector TJ Keiran to allow his department to review the township’s zoning ordinance and revise it to “provide proper biosecurity standards to protect backyard chicken flocks from disease transmitted by migratory wild birds.”

“We allow backyard chickens and small livestock and we have a section of our zoning resolution that has some standards which are meant to protect the animals from the elements,” Keiran said. “Unfortunately, our standards don’t protect the livestock from migrating wild birds.”

As of March, Ohio officials have tracked more than 23 million cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza among poultry and other livestock populations in 2024-25, and a Mercer County (Ohio) poultry farm worker became the first documented human case of bird flu in February.

Keiran’s resolution states that the virus has affected more than 14 million birds in Ohio in just 2025 alone.

Boardman’s zoning resolution allows residents to apply to keep up to six chickens, rabbits or similarly sized livestock in areas with certain zoning designations. But Keiran said the resolution was only drafted to protect the animals from the elements, not from the risk of infection by wild birds.

Bird flu is transmitted through the saliva, nasal secretions and feces of infected wild birds.

Egg and poultry prices have increased because of the epidemic and Keiran’s resolution states that the township has seen an increase in permit requests for raising backyard chickens.

He said the township cannot in good conscience sign off on any new permits until it can ensure the safety of the chickens and their keepers.

“We want to temporarily cease issuing any new permits and work with the zoning commission to come up with standards that would have bioprotection, based on Ohio State University recommendations, Department of Agriculture standards, and other local standards that would apply to Boardman as an urban area,” he said.

The township is sitting on at least seven new applications right now, Keiran said, and one of those turned into an opportunity for the township to gain some expertise on the matter.

Keiran said the application is from a marine biologist who just moved back to the area and is studying to become a wildlife biologist. He said she has agreed to be on the team that reviews the standards the township hopes to implement

Trustees, including new appointee Stephen Yacovone, voted unanimously to approve the motion.