For fourth time this fall, avian flu strikes Iowa poultry flock

For the fourth time in less than two weeks, avian flu has struck another poultry flock in Iowa -- the latest at a commercial turkey operation in Buena Vista County.

The avian flu was confirmed twice early this year in Iowa, but then went on a seven-month hiatus as migratory birds -- thought to be the main cause of spreading the highly contagious virus among poultry -- ended their trek. Entire flocks of birds are euthanized to keep the virus from spreading after a case has been confirmed. But now since October, four outbreaks have been reported in counties on the western half of the state, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the U.S.Department of Agriculture, including:

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent bird flu confirmations do not present a public health concern to humans. It remains safe to eat poultry products, the Iowa ag department said.