Iowa reports 4 more avian flu outbreaks
Robert Roos
CIDRAP News
May 18, 2015
Iowa reported four more avian flu outbreaks today, two on turkey farms and two in backyard poultry flocks, but no new outbreaks were reported in hard-hit Minnesota or other neighboring states.
Meanwhile, a new study from the University of Minnesota estimated that the H5N2 avian flu virus has already done about $310 million worth of damage to the state’s economy, while an Iowa company said it is nearly ready to start testing an H5N2 vaccine for poultry.
Two Iowa counties affected
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) said the four new outbreaks involve an H5 virus, with confirmation of H5N2 awaited. Confirmatory testing is done by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
The two affected turkey farms are in northwestern Iowa’s Sac County, which now has five avian flu outbreaks, the IDALS said. Flock size estimates for the two farms were not yet available. Most of the farms hit by H5N2 in Iowa have been layer chicken operation, but a few turkey farms have been affected as well.
The two backyard flocks affected are in Sioux County, raising its avian outbreak count to 14, the agency said. The virus was detected in a flock of 50 ducks as a result of monitoring prompted by another outbreak. The other backyard flock consisted of about 12 chickens, which were tested after they showed signs of illness, the agency said.
The four events raised Iowa’s total outbreak count to 56, the IDALS said.
Big economic toll in Minnesota
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