Bill Northey
The Iowa Department of Agriculture announced four more cases bird flu Monday to bring the total number of cases in the state to 56. The new probable cases include two turkey farms in Sac County and a backyard flock of ducks and one of chickens in Sioux County.
Iowa could have a decision this week on how poultry will be handled at state and county fairs in the wake of the bird flu outbreak. Agriculture Secretary, Bill Northey, says they are weighing options — including testing show poultry — making sure they’re disease free.
Or not allow ducks and geese, but allow chickens. Or allow a terminal show — meaning those birds don’t go back home after that show,” Northey says.
Minnesota officials canceled this summer’s state and country fair poultry shows because of the avian flu outbreaks there. Northey says that is also an option for Iowa.
“We may well end up like some of these other states where we have one rule across the state, and that’s we don’t have it,” according to Northey.
Northey says he isn’t sure where they will end up, but will probably have a decision on fair poultry this week.