Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in two commercial turkey flocks in Iowa in the last week and Governor Kim Reynolds authorized disaster proclamations. The flocks are in Buena Vista and Sac counties and the disaster proclamation runs through mid-March in those counties. The positive cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were confirmed by the USDA.

According to the USDA, in the last 30 days, as of February 19th, HPAI has been confirmed in three commercial flocks in Iowa affecting 267,700 birds. HPAI was also found in a domestic cat in Hamilton County in January.

Across the country, there have been 151 flocks confirmed to have HPAI with 102 of those being commercial and 49 being backyard flocks with over 23 million birds affected in total. Currently, the state with the most birds affected in the last 30 days is Ohio with 51 commercial flocks having HPAI for a total of 8.9 million birds.

People are reminded by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the USDA to bolster biosecurity practices for poultry producers and dairy farmers. The Centers for Disease Control states that they believe the threat to the general public to be low at this time. 

The Iowa DNR is asking that if anyone finds five or more sick or dead flocking birds within a week to report their findings to a local wildlife biologist or state conservation officer. Do not approach or bring home wild or migratory birds that appear sick or that are deceased.