Bird flu found in Sac County turkey flock, Gov. Reynolds issues disaster proclamation

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — Another case of bird flu has been detected in northwest Iowa, this time in a turkey flock in Sac County.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the USDA found a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, in a commercial turkey flock, they announced Thursday. It’s the third detected case of HPAI within poultry in Iowa in 2024.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sac County for June 20 through July 20. The proclamation “allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection.”

There have been a number of recent cases of HPAI found in northwest Iowa in both cattle and in poultry . These cases “do not present an immediate public health concern,” officials say. However, poultry producers are still asked to watch their flocks for any signs of HPAI and to contact their veterinarian and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship if necessary.

Signs of HPAI in poultry include the following:

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

Poultry producers and dairy farmers are encouraged to increase their biosecurity practices to help protect their flocks and herds.

As the bird flu also affects dairy cattle, dairy producers are asked to also watch for signs of sickness and reach out to their herd veterinarian and officials if they see any of the following signs in their cattle:

• Decrease in food consumption with a simultaneous decrease in rumination
• Clear nasal discharge
• Drop in milk production
• Tacky or loose feces
• Lethargy
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk

More information about HPAI can be found on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship website .

Wesley Thoene contributed to this report.

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