More than 4 million chickens will be slaughtered to prevent the spread of bird flu after the virus was detected at a commercial egg-laying facility in Iowa, the state announced on May 28.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said in a statement that a coordinated effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture led to the detection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) case of the H5N1 strain, also known as bird flu, at a large farm in Sioux County.
It was the first avian influenza case detected in a large commercial flock of chickens in the Hawkeye State this year.
Don McDowell, the agency’s communications director, told The Epoch Times in an email that the affected flock contains about 4.2 million chickens.
In a statement on May 28, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she signed a disaster proclamation for Sioux County, enabling state and federal agencies to assist with the tracking, monitoring, detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection of the virus.
“The recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products,” the governor’s office said. “If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.”
The proclamation will remain in place through June 27, her office said.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 92 million birds have been killed nationwide since the outbreak began in 2022.
Last week, the virus was confirmed at an egg farm west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, leading to the slaughter of nearly 1.4 million chickens.
Although HPAI—a viral disease affecting both wild and domestic bird populations—has become somewhat common among poultry, a growing number of cases in lactating dairy cattle and species that come into contact with them or drink their milk has added to worries about the disease.
