New outbreak of avian flu strikes Hardin County

Bird flu has now been confirmed in 12 of Iowa’s 99 counties with the latest outbreak reported Wednesday in a Hardin County turkey flock.

Over 13 million birds in Iowa have been euthanized in Iowa since the first outbreak was confirmed March 1. Agriculture officials say the disease is being spread to commercial turkey and chicken operations by wild birds, particularly geese and ducks.

The Hardin County confirmation announced Wednesday is the 16th outbreak reported this year in the state, and one of only two in counties east of Des Moines.

Of the previous cases, four were in Buena Vista County and two were in Hamilton County. Others have been in Cherokee, Franklin, Guthrie, Humboldt, Osceola, Pottawattamie, Sac, Taylor and Warren counties.