Four more bird flu cases suspected

State officials announced Wednesday four more probable cases of highly pathogenic avian flu in Iowa commercial poultry farms.

The new cases - three in Buena Vista County and one in Kossuth County - bring to 12 the total number of cases diagnosed in Iowa this month, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said.

State officials have quarantined the premises, and once the disease is confirmed all birds on the property will be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.

The new cases bring to 10 million the Iowa birds that have either been or will be euthanized.

The new cases include two Buena Vista County turkey farms - one with 50,000 birds, the other whose population estimate is pending.

The other new cases are a 63,000-hen commercial laying operation in Buena Vista County and a chicken breeder farm with 19,000 birds in Kossuth County.

While lethal to domestic poultry, the strain of virus detected is not known to have caused disease in humans and is not expected to pose a risk to public health or the food supply.

Veterinarians have said the disease is transmitted to domestic poultry by wild birds, primarily migrating waterfowl, which do not suffer ill effects. Officials have expressed hope that it will abate with the arrival of consistently warmer weather.

Meanwhile, Minnesota officials announced Wednesday that bird flu had been confirmed at eight more turkey farms and presumed at three others, bringing to 67 the number of state poultry flocks afflicted by the virus.