The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Hardin County Iowa.

Health inspectors say the virus was found in a commercial turkey flock.

Flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual deaths to state and federal officials.  If producers suspect signs of HPAI in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern.  No human cases of the Avian Influenza Virus have been detected in the United States.  It is completely safe to eat any types of poultry products being sold to consumers.

HPAI is a highly contagious, viral disease affecting bird populations.  HPAI is a highly contagious, viral disease affecting bird populations.  HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys.  The virus can spread through droppings or nasal discharge of an infected bird, which can contaminate dust and soil.

As of now, 16 different commercial and backyard cases of the virus have been positively confirmed within the state of Iowa.