(Des Moines) A case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) has been confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in Calhoun County, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Thursday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) assisted in the detection.
This marks Iowa’s eighth detection of H5N1 HPAI in domestic birds in 2025.
H5N1 HPAI is a viral disease that can spread through wild birds without visible symptoms but is often deadly to domestic poultry such as turkeys and chickens.
State officials are urging both commercial producers and backyard flock owners to strengthen biosecurity measures. Resources are available on the Department of Agriculture’s website. Anyone who suspects their birds may be infected should contact a veterinarian and report possible cases to the Department at (515) 281-5305.
Symptoms of the virus in birds can include a sudden rise in deaths, lethargy, loss of appetite, reduced egg production, swelling of the head and wattles, purple or blue discoloration of combs and legs, respiratory distress, stumbling, and diarrhea.
Officials stress that poultry products and eggs remain safe to eat, provided they are handled properly and cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚F. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to assess the risk to the public as low. Questions regarding public health should be directed to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Confirmed detections are listed on the USDA APHIS website as they are verified by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames.
