chickens

Seven new probable cases of the bird flu bring the state total to 44.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture added seven more probable cases to the list of facilities hitby the avian influenza or bird flu. These new cases bring the state total to 44 and includes millions of chickens, turkeys and ducks.

The new cases announced Friday included the first cases in Sac County and Palo Alto County. An undetermined number of turkeys are infected at each of those facilities.

Wright County saw its second and third case. They are in a commercial laying operation with 2.9 million hens and the other with 1.1 million birds. Buena Vista recorded its 11th and 1th cases, both in turkey farms. One has 42,000 turkeys, and the number has not been determined in the other.

The other case is in a turkey farm in Cherokee County. The estimate on the number of turkeys is still pending in what is the fifth case in that county.  All of the birds will be killed once the cases are confirmed.