Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been detected in two more Iowa poultry flocks, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed on May 13.
The affected Iowa flocks are located in Osceola and Wright counties.
The Wright County case – the third H5N2 avian influenza case in the county – involved 713,000 chickens in a layer flock. The Osceola County avian influenza case – the county’s fourth – involved a flock of mixed poultry. The number of birds in the Osceola County flock has not yet been confirmed by APHIS.
Testing of samples from the two flocks was conducted at USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to help prevent the spread of the disease.
To date, 20 states have had confirmed cases of avian influenza in 2015 with more than 33.3 million birds affected. Iowa ranks second to Minnesota as the state with the most confirmed avian influenza cases. The virus has also been confirmed in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario.
To track confirmed cases of the North American avian influenza outbreak, see WATTAgNet's avian influenza tracker map and bookmark the avian influenza update page for news about and analysis of avian influenza.
