Bird flu detected in Iowa commercial flock for first time nearly a year

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial turkey flock of approximately 44,400 birds in Sac County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 

While the HPAI H5N1 outbreak has been ongoing since February 2022, Iowa has not reported an outbreak of the bird flu in a commercial flock since December 2025. The state has reported seven outbreaks of the virus in backyard, mixed species or game bird flocks in 2026. 

Iowa has had more total birds affected by the bird flu than any other state since the start of the outbreak, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sac County Wednesday after IDALS’s announcement. The disaster proclamation allows state and department resources to be more easily deployed to help contain and monitor the outbreak, which typically requires dispatching the affected flock and disposing of the dead birds. 

IDALS is encouraging producers and backyard flock owners to “continue bolstering” biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. HPAI is a viral disease that can travel in wild birds and infect wild and domestic birds. Instances of the virus typically rise during bird migration seasons. 

Poultry producers must report possible cases of the bird flu to IDALS and should contact their veterinarians if they suspect birds with the virus. Some clinical signs include a sudden increase in bird deaths, lethargy, decreased egg production, swelling of head, difficulty breathing, thin-shelled or misshapen eggs and diarrhea. 

Poultry and egg products remain safe to eat and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, continue to rate the public health risk of bird flu as low as there is no known person-to-person spread.