The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding to five probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry farms in Osceola, O’Brien and Sioux counties in Northwest Iowa. These five new cases, if confirmed, would join three confirmed cases of the disease in Iowa.
Two of the suspected cases are in O’Brien County, two are in Sioux County and the other is in Osceola County.
The Sioux County cases both involved commercial egg laying operations. One of the affected flocks has an estimated 3.8 million birds, while the other has about 1.7 million birds. Center Fresh Group confirmed that both suspected outbreaks in that county were at farms operated by the company, reported ABC9 News.
Both O’Brien County cases are also in commercial egg laying operations. One has an estimated 240,000 chickens, while the other has an estimated 98,000 birds.
The suspected avian influenza case in Osceola County was at a pullet farm with approximately 250,000 birds.
Additional testing of samples from each of the affected operations is being conducted at the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inpsection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. State officials have quarantined the premises and if the initial test are confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
