Bird flu detected in 6 Iowa counties this month

State and federal agencies say poultry products are still safe to eat, despite recent outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. (Photo by USDA)

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the highly pathogenic avian influenza had been detected in commercial and backyard flocks in Sioux, Worth and Monona counties.

The bird flu virus impacted another egg-laying flock in Sioux County, a commercial turkey flock in Worth County and a mixed species backyard flock in Monona County.

This comes just days after IDALS announced another detection, this time in a commercial layer flock, in O’Brien County on Dec. 14.

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The state has now reported 11 detections of the virus in 2024. The latest string of detections began Dec. 6 with a case in layer chickens in Sioux County.

Last week, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced a “resurgence” of the flu in wild birds after nearly a year with no detections via routine swabbing of hunted birds.

The state wildlife veterinarian with DNR said there is not enough data currently to know if the outbreaks are related.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued disaster proclamations, to allow state and local agencies to contain the virus and depopulate affected flocks, in the following Iowa counties: Sioux, Palo Alto, Sac, O’Brien and Worth.

Press releases from IDALS said poultry products remain safe to eat. The department also urges commercial and backyard poultry producers to remain vigilant and contact their veterinarians immediately should they suspect any of their flocks have the bird influenza.

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