Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and USDA APHIS Confirms Third Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Buena Vista County, Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (March 24, 2022) — The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The virus was found in a commercial turkey flock.  This is the third confirmed case of HPAI in Buena Vista County, Iowa. The first case was in a commercial turkey flock on March 6 and the second case was in a flock of commercial laying hens on March 17.

“This is a difficult time for poultry producers as HPAI continues to impact farms across Iowa and the United States,” said Secretary Naig. “We continue to work with them, USDA and other industry stakeholders to implement our plans and minimize the spread of the virus. Biosecurity remains the best line of defense to protect the health of our poultry flocks.”   

Flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual deaths to state/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 be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture at (515) 281-5305.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. It remains safe to eat poultry products. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses. 

About HPAI
HPAI is highly contagious, viral disease affecting bird populations. HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. The virus can spread through droppings or nasal discharge of an infected bird, which can contaminate dust and soil. 

Signs of HPAI include: 
•    Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
•    Lack of energy and appetite
•    Decrease in egg production
•    Soft- or thin-shelled or misshapen eggs
•    Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
•    Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
•    Gasping for air (difficulty breathing)
•    Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
•    Stumbling or falling down
•    Diarrhea

For updates on this developing situation, please visit https://iowaagriculture.gov/animal-industry-bureau/avian-influenza. For information on Governor’s disaster proclamations for HPAI, visit https://governor.iowa.gov/newsroom.    

Commercial and Backyard HPAI Detections in Iowa