Around 400,000 birds destroyed in northwestern Iowa in state's sixth bird flu infection

The bird flu has been detected in a commercial flock in Buena Vista County, the state announced Friday. This is the sixth detection in Iowa this year.

Around 400,000 pullet birds, or young chickens raised for meat or egg production, were destroyed at a commercial farm in Buena Vista County in northwest Iowa after the bird flu was detected.

This detection comes just under a week after this year's fifth infection was detected in a small flock of 37 chickens and ducks in Dallas County. No other known cases have been reported in the Des Moines metro area this year.

The bird flu can be spread through wild birds who may not show symptoms but can easily spread it to domestic flocks such as chickens and turkeys. Flocks that are detected to have the disease are destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease.

The third bird flu infection detected this year was also in Buena Vista County in mid-February where 26,730 turkeys were destroyed.

The fourth detection was in Sac County in northwestern Iowa on Feb. 19, where 29,665 turkeys were destroyed and the second in O'Brien County, also in northwestern Iowa, where 40 commercial layer birds were destroyed. The first detection of the disease was in eastern Iowa in Clinton County in early January.

The department has biosecurity resources that it encourages poultry producers and dairy and livestock farmers to follow to help prevent the further spread of the disease.

Poultry producers or those who have backyard flocks should contact their veterinarian immediately if birds begin showing symptoms. Cases must be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-281-5305. 

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.