Confirmed Cases of Avian Influenza in Minnesota and South Dakota Raise Alarm Among Iowa Poultry Producers, Prompting Proactive Measures

By Andi Anderson

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is urging poultry producers and individuals with backyard birds to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to guard against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Recent cases of HPAI have been confirmed in neighboring states, including Minnesota and South Dakota, and the virus continues to circulate within the wild bird population. As fall migration is underway, it is crucial to be alert and proactive in protecting poultry flocks.

Poultry producers and backyard bird owners can take the following steps to protect their flocks from HPAI:

• Vigilance and Biosecurity: Poultry producers and backyard flock owners are strongly encouraged to be watchful for signs and symptoms of HPAI and to implement the highest levels of biosecurity practices around their birds.
• Ongoing Threat: HPAI remains a significant threat to Iowa's poultry industry, including turkey producers, egg layers, and backyard flocks.
• Prevention and Reporting: Prevent contact between domestic birds and wild birds and report any signs of illness or unusual deaths among birds to state or federal officials. Resources and best practices for biosecurity are available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website.
• Immediate Reporting: Producers who suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks should contact their veterinarian promptly, and potential cases must be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.
• Public Health Concern: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that recent HPAI detections in birds do not pose a public health concern. Poultry products remain safe for consumption. Consumers should continue to handle and cook eggs and poultry products properly, ensuring they are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
• About HPAI: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a highly contagious viral disease that can impact bird populations. It can be carried by wild birds without causing visible illness in them but can be fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. The virus spreads through infected bird droppings and nasal discharge, which can contaminate dust and soil.
• Signs of HPAI: Recognize the signs of HPAI, which may include increased bird deaths without clinical signs, lethargy, decreased egg production, abnormal egg characteristics, and various physical symptoms in birds.
• Previous Cases: The last reported case of HPAI in Iowa was in a backyard flock in Chickasaw County in March 2023. Since the initial case in Iowa in March 2022, there have been 32 cases affecting over 15.92 million birds in the state. Nationwide, there have been 845 cases in 47 states, affecting 59.02 million birds. This outbreak is the largest foreign animal disease outbreak in the history of the United States.

For more information on HPAI and precautionary measures, you can visit the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's website

Photo Credit: gettyimages-wikoski