As fall bird migration picks up into October, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is urging poultry producers, dairy farmers, and backyard flock owners to strengthen biosecurity measures to mitigate the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). He says, “Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to pose a serious risk for our state’s poultry and dairy farms as well as those who have backyard birds. We encourage all livestock producers to be alert, revisit their biosecurity plans, and ensure those measures are effectively put into practice.” Iowa has gone over three months without a confirmed bird flu outbreak, but Naig warns producers cannot afford to become complacent. Those warnings extend to dairy producers, as HPAI had previously been found in dairy herds. More than 23.3 million birds have been affected in Iowa since the latest bird flu outbreaks began in 2022. While there are no current cases in Iowa, producers suspecting HPAI in their flocks should contact their veterinarian immediately.
_____
Biosecurity | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Avian Influenza | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
