Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has returned to the Upper Midwest of the United States with a vengeance. After a break from spring to early fall, new case reports are piling up for commercial swarms.
New reports of bird flu include the following:
- A commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County, Iowa.
- A commercial turkey flock of 49,700 birds in Faulk County, SD.
- A commercial turkey flock of 65,000 birds in McPherson County, SD.
- A turkey farmer operates 2,700 toms in Becker County, MN
- A commercial turkey flock of 72,100 birds in Meeker County, MN
The discovery of avian influenza in a commercial flock usually results in 'culling', meaning that the affected birds must be euthanized
With the state's first case since March 2023, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration on Oct. 20 for the new bird flu cases. Its action allows the state to monitor, track, detect, contain, reject and disinfect the virus.
Iowa lost 15 million birds to bird flu in 2022 through March 2023.
The recurrence of outbreaks led agriculture officials to re-educate people on the warning signs of HPAI. They include:
- Decreased food or water intake.
- Swelling or purple discoloration of the head, eyelids, comb, rump and tarsi.
- Decrease in egg production
- Sudden, unexplained death
Scientists say some wild birds have developed immunity to bird flu, which is seen as an encouraging sign. Since wild birds have spread flu around the world, immunity may reduce the spread in the future.
HPAI has infected commercial poultry, totaling more than 59 million in 47 states as of 2022. As of April 2022, only one recovered individual was infected with HPAI.
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