The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship recently made a significant announcement. Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks across Sioux, Worth, and Monona counties. This virus has had a notable impact, affecting an egg-laying flock in Sioux County, a commercial turkey flock in Worth County, and a mixed species backyard flock in Monona County. Just a few days prior to this, on Dec. 14, IDALS had already announced another detection in a commercial layer flock in O’Brien County. As of now, the state has reported 11 detections of the virus in 2024. The latest string of detections started on Dec. 6 with a case in layer chickens in Sioux County.

Impact on Wild Birds and State Response

Last week, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced a "resurgence" of the flu in wild birds. This comes after nearly a year with no detections through routine swabbing of hunted birds. The state wildlife veterinarian with DNR stated that there is currently not enough data to determine if these outbreaks are related. In response, Governor Kim Reynolds has issued disaster proclamations to enable state and local agencies to contain the virus and depopulate affected flocks in several Iowa counties including Sioux, Palo Alto, Sac, O’Brien, and Worth.

Ensuring Poultry Product Safety

Press releases from IDALS have emphasized that poultry products remain safe to eat. The department also strongly urges commercial and backyard poultry producers to stay vigilant. If they suspect any of their flocks have the bird influenza, they are urged to contact their veterinarians immediately. This proactive approach is crucial in preventing the spread of the virus and protecting both the poultry industry and public health.

Maintaining Editorial Independence

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