The Iowa Department of Agriculture today announce 4 more probable cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in commercial poultry farms in Sac, Pocahontas, Cherokee and Madison counties. These new cases bring the total of confirmed and probable cases at facilities in the state to 21.
State officials have quarantined each of the facilities and once the presence of the disease is confirmed, all birds on the property will be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
The Ag Department says the case in Sac County is the second there and is at a turkey farm. An estimate on the number of birds at the site is still pending.
The other suspected cases are the first for the counties involved. They include turkey farms in Pocahontas and Cherokee counties — where estimates on bird counts are still pending for both — and a commercial laying operation in Madison County that has an estimated one million birds.
The Governor and Ag Secretary plan to give an update on the efforts to fight the bird flu this afternoon.