Bird flu has been detected in another backyard flock — this time in Buena Vista County — the fourth such outbreak over the past two weeks, the Iowa Department of Agriculture reports.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza hit the north central Iowa flock of about 35 birds Wednesday, March 4, the department said.
Birds in flocks infected with the disease are destroyed to prevent the deadly virus’ spread. The U.S. outbreak that began in 2022 has resulted in the destruction of 200.6 million chickens, turkeys, ducks and other birds, U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows.
Iowa, the nation’s largest producer of eggs and seventh-largest turkey producer, has lost 30.7 million birds, about 15% of the total.
On Feb. 25, the state ag department said bird flu was detected in backyard flocks of 85 birds in Keokuk County and 45 birds in Van Buren County, both in southeast Iowa. Another outbreak was detected Tuesday, March 3, in a backyard flock with 48 birds in Washington County, also in southeast Iowa.
In all, there have been six outbreaks of bird flu so far in Iowa this year.
The virus also has spread to dairy cows, prompting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to urge consumers to only drink milk that has been pasteurized, a process that kills the virus. Unlike birds, cattle can recover from the virus.
The CDC says the risk to humans is low, with no person-to-person spread. Despite the limited risk, the federal data indicates that two people in the U.S. have died from avian influenza.
Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bird flu hits four backyard flocks in Iowa over two weeks
Reporting by Donnelle Eller, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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