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(Wright County, IA) -- State agriculture officials are confirming a bird flu case in north central Iowa's Wright County. Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig says it was found in a commercial layer flock. It's the first confirmed case in Wright County this year. Bird flu was detected in a non-commercial flock in Dallas County earlier this month. The cases are the first in Iowa since the spring bird migration.
“With HPAI continuing to be a significant threat across the country, this is a difficult and stressful time for poultry farmers and egg producers,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We have been preparing for the possibility of additional outbreaks and are working closely with USDA and producers to eradicate this disease from our state. With migration ongoing, we continue to emphasize the need for strict biosecurity on poultry farms and around backyard flocks to help prevent and limit the spread of this destructive virus.”
The Iowa Department of Agriculture recommends commercial and backyard flock owners prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. Sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Biosecurity resources and best practices are available at iowaagriculture.gov/biosecurity. If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products. An internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture confirms that due to the outbreak, approximately 1.1 million birds will be depopulated.