DES MOINES, IOWA — A new report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County, Iowa.

The agencies stated that this was the seventh HPAI outbreak for Iowa since the beginning of 2024.

Over the last week, state officials also confirmed HPAI detections in two commercial layer flocks and a commercial turkey flock on Dec. 8 for Palo Alto County.

IDALS encouraged Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to use biosecurity practices and protocols to protect flocks and herds. The state agency pointed out that it could also impact Iowa dairy herds which detected 13 cases during June 2024. 

“With supportive care, dairy herds recover with limited, or no mortality associated with the disease,” IDALS said. 

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds confirmed on Dec. 11 that she offered a disaster proclamation for all four sites around the state to waive regulatory provisions that help state resources assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal and disinfection.