More than 4 million chickens to be killed in Iowa after authorities found bird flu on farm

A case of highly pathogenic bird flu has been detected in a large flock of laying hens in Sioux County, Iowa, authorities confirmed. Authorities confirmed to CBS News that 4.2 million birds were affected and had to be culled.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the USDA confirmed the detection of bird flu on Tuesday, marking the first case of bird flu in the state this year. The last case of the virus was detected in a backyard mixed breed dog in December, and the last time commercial laying hens Last November, cases of Covid-19 were also reported in Sioux County.

According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, the latest affected flock includes 4.2 million chickens – the largest number of affected flocks in the state since more than 5 million chickens were infected with bird flu in Osceola County in 2022. It is also the largest number of chickens in a flock affected by the virus nationwide so far this year, according to the USDA. Iowa is the largest egg producer in the U.S., USDA data shows.

An official with the state Department of Agriculture also confirmed the number of birds affected this week, telling CBS News that “population decline is underway.”

The Dispatch reported that the The entire herd is culledwith the remains being isolated to prevent further spread. The high casualties prompted a disaster declaration by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for the county that will be in effect until June 27.

Last week, an egg farm in Minnesota, which is Iowa’s northern neighbor, was also hit by bird flu, affecting nearly 1.4 million birds. At the same time, more than 81,000 commercial turkey broilers and breeding chickens in Minnesota were also affected.

Avian flu can be fatal to poultry. According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, chickens and turkeys infected with a highly pathogenic strain “may experience respiratory distress or sudden death.”

The ongoing outbreak of bird flu has been devastating and has spread beyond birds. Last month, the flu was detected in the United States. Dairy cows for the first time and two people have infected, both of whom showed mild symptoms after coming into contact with infected cattle. The virus was also found in beef And milk.