(Sioux County, Iowa) Over four million chickens will have to be killed due to a major bird flu outbreak in Iowa. The highly pathogenic disease was detected on a commercial egg farm in Iowa, making it the latest in several outbreaks affecting birds and dairy cows. On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture announced the farm’s four-point-two-million-birds will have to be killed.
The bird flu outbreak in the U.S. has killed over 92 million birds since 2022. The virus has also spread to dairy cattle, raising concerns about its impact on the livestock industry. Health officials emphasize that the risk to the public remains low, but workers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a disaster proclamation to help track and monitor the virus in the state. The declaration allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. It also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites.
The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, but it remains safe to eat poultry products. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.
