Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in Iowa and the Governor has authorized disaster proclamations for multiple counties as a result. State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Rachel Ruden explains what is happening with HPAI, “What we’re seeing now is kind of this novel lineage that first emerged in North America back in really late 2021 and then in the U.S. In 2022. And it’s a highly pathogenic strain that’s circulating widely in wild birds and then also spilling into poultry and other species including dairy cattle, most recently.”

Poultry producers are encouraged to review biosecurity plans and practices, by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Infected birds shed the avian influenza through their saliva, mucus, and feces. Ruden says what people should do in regards to backyard birdfeeders, “The traditional backyard birds, or songbirds, they just are not, they don’t live in a context where they get exposed to virus frequently. And so, really there’s no impact and no reason to take down your feeders, unless they’re actively being attended by waterfowl which could spread virus.”

As of December 19th, the counties with disaster proclamations from the governor’s office include Worth, O’Brien, Sac, Sioux, and Palo Alto for the highly pathogenic avian influenza being found in either a commercial turkey flock or in commercial layer chickens.