Back in 2015, the worst thing that poultry producers could go through, happened. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) hit the upper Midwest. Iowa was one of the hardest-hit states, due to its large populations of egg layers, chickens, and turkeys. It led to the euthanization of over 50 million animals across the country and damaged the income flow for many producers.
A lot of hard lessons were learned in 2015. Lessons that were not going to be forgotten. Lessons that led the poultry industry to also work even more closely with other livestock groups in hopes of reducing any fallout from large-scale animal health emergencies. Now, these lessons and plans may be put to the test as HAPI is again resurfacing in the country. It is as close as Kentucky and Indiana.
Gretta Irwin is Executive Director for the Iowa Turkey Federation. She talks about the situation we are finding ourselves in right now. The disease was first discovered in game birds that had been hunted. Since then, we have seen more flocks and operations become affected. The real worry for Iowa producers is those migrating birds that can carry the disease and spread it to large areas very quickly.
Irwin talks about the precautions taken to ensure biosecurity for commercial flocks.
Blood testing already occurs for birds about to enter the food supply chain. These tests will be a line of defense in preventing the spread of the disease. Irwin also talks about the resources they have to monitor the health of birds in Iowa. Consumers can also rest assured that even though HPAI isn?t harmful to humans, those animals that are infected never enter the food supply chain.
Irwin urges producers to be proactive in their plans to protect their flocks. She talks about the resources available to poultry producers across the board.
As of press time, no flocks have tested positive in the state of Iowa.
