Four more Iowa outbreaks of bird flu suspected

DES MOINES - Four more probable cases of highly pathogenic bird flu in commercial poultry farms were announced Monday by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

Wright County in north-central Iowa recorded its first case - a commercial laying operation with 2.8 million hens.

Buena Vista County recorded its seventh and eighth cases - both turkey farms with no estimate available on the number of birds.

Cherokee County's second case was also a turkey farm with an as-yet unspecified number of birds affected.

Monday's cases bring to 25 the total number of Iowa poultry operations affected by the disease since the first one was recorded April 14.

In response to the outbreak, which has now affected almost one-third of Iowa's 60 million chickens, Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday declared a state of emergency, authorizing use of state resources as deemed reasonably necessary.

In an effort to stop the spread of the disease to other poultry, the 25 affected farms have been quarantined, and all affected chickens and turkeys will be euthanized and hygienically disposed.

The virus is believed to be spread by migratory birds, such as ducks and geese, that leave their droppings on farms.

The risk to people from the virus is low, according to state and federal health officials.

No human infections with the virus have ever been detected, and there is no food safety risk for consumers, officials say.