First case in a county neighboring Greene County
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is responding May 18 to two probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Sac and Calhoun counties. With the new announcements, there are now 62 cases of the disease in the state. HPAI has been found in 15 counties, primarily in northwest Iowa. Calhoun is the first county adjacent to Greene County in which the disease has been found.
The Department has quarantined the premises and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be humanely euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
HPAI was identified in Sac County first on April 23. Wednesday’s notification of suspected HPAI on a turkey farm was the sixth in that county. A suspected case was also identified May 18 on a turkey farm in Calhoun County. Both cases involve turkey farms that have experienced increased mortality.
Additional confirmatory testing is pending from the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames.
According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, there are no food safety concerns associated with HPAI and the risk to humans is very low, as there has never been a reported case of infection.
This particular virus originates in waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, gulls) and shorebirds. Wild birds can carry up to 144 possible subtypes of avian influenza viruses but rarely show disease or mortality.
In birds, the IDALS website states, avian influenza is spread by direct contact with fecal droppings or respiratory secretions of infected birds. The virus can also be spread by objects such as shoes, clothing or equipment contaminated with the virus.
