Iowa bans live bird exhibitions for the second time in 2022

Iowa bird exhibitions were banned Thursday — for the second time this year — after a recent rash of bird flu outbreaks in backyard and commercial poultry flocks.

The order from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship cancels all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings and prohibits birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auctions, swap meets or exotic animal sales.

The order is effective for at least 30 days and until 30 days has passed without a new confirmation of highly-pathogenic bird flu.

As wild birds started migrating in September, bird flu returned to the state with outbreaks confirmed in Wright, Dallas and Louisa counties. More than 1 million birds were destroyed at one Wright County operation.

Iowa also imposed a ban on live bird exhibitions March 23 as the spring migration of wild birds infected captive poultry here. More than 13 million birds were destroyed during outbreaks this spring as a precaution to keep the disease from spreading.

The ban was lifted June 3, allowing most state fair animal exhibitions to be held over the summer.

Iowa is the No. 1 egg producing state, with more than 58 million laying hens producing more than 17.1 billion eggs in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

State officials warned owners of commercial and backyard flocks to prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, such as geese or ducks. Possible cases be reported to the agriculture department at (515) 281-5305.

Bird flu does not present a risk to humans and it is safe to eat poultry products.

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