KDSN RADIO News
Iowa Confirms New Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Sac County Turkey Flock
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed on Wednesday a new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County. This marks the fourth confirmed domestic bird case of the virus in Iowa this year.
In response, Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sac County, effective until March 21. The declaration will enable state resources to assist with tracking, containment, disposal, and disinfection efforts. It also temporarily waives certain regulations for commercial vehicles assisting in the response.
HPAI spreads rapidly among both wild and domestic bird populations and can be deadly to poultry such as turkeys and chickens. Iowa officials are urging producers and backyard, bird owners, to bolster biosecurity measures and report any suspected cases to IDALS at 515-281-5305.
Despite the outbreak, public health authorities emphasize that the risk to humans remains low, and properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to report any clusters of sick or dead wild birds.
Since the onset of the outbreak in 2022, approximately 162 million birds have been affected across the U.S., including more than 30 million in Iowa alone.
