Iowa now has its second confirmed bird flu outbreak.
Officials with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Monday morning that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in a commercial turkey flock located in Buena Vista County. This follows last week?s confirmed bird flu outbreak in a Pottawattamie County non-commercial, backyard flock of chickens and ducks.
In a press conference call Monday afternoon, Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig said the state continues to work with the USDA and other partners to implement response plans and to protect the health of Iowa?s poultry flocks.
?None of us want to be facing a foreign animal disease again here in Iowa, but we have learned a lot since the (HPAI) of 2015. We are well-prepared to respond as a result,? said Naig. ?There have been a number of planning exercises with our team, USDA and industry partners since 2015. Many of my team played a key role in the response in 2015, and in the extensive planning and preparedness efforts since that time.?
Iowa State Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Kaisand says the state received official confirmation of the HPAI-infected Buena Vista County flock late Sunday.
?We quickly responded, and steps were taken to immediately depopulate all turkeys at the infected site,? said Kaisand. ?We have also established a control area around the infected site where are restricting movement in, within, and out of the control area. We are actively testing for the disease in this area.?
If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases should also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture at (515) 281-5305.
