Turkey (file photo)
Three new cases of the bird flu were reported Tuesday by the Department of Agriculture, bringing the total to 28 cases. Two of the new cases are in Buena Vista County turkey farms, but an estimate on the number of birds impacted is still pending. They are the 9th and 10th cases in that county.
Sioux County saw its 4th case, this one impacting some 60,000 laying hens. The total cases of confirmed or probable H-5 avian influenza include around 19.5 million chickens and 500,000 turkeys.
Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency Friday to free up some state resources to help handle the dead birds and for prevention measures to try and stop the spread of the disease.
The state of emergency proclamation will expire on May 31st. U.S.D.A officials say cases of the bird flu usually drop off as the weather warms up.