Avian flu confirmed in Benton County backyard flock

Avian flu has spread to another Iowa county this fall, infecting a mix-species backyard flock in Benton County, Iowa agriculture officials said Wednesday.

The report brings to 14 confirmations spread across 10 Iowa counties since outbreaks started appearing in the state in October after a seven-month break. While not considered a threat to humans, the bird flu is highly contagious to poultry and entire flocks are euthanized after a report in an attempt to stop the spread to other flocks.

Since October, nearly 1.25 million turkeys, chickens, game birds and other poultry — including the largest, over 1 million commercial layer chickens in Taylor County — have been euthanized in Iowa because of the disease, according to federal figures.