The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has confirmed another case of bird flu in Sioux County.
According to the Ag Department, this is believed to be the 11th case of bird flu in the state of Iowa. This brings the total number of cases detected in Sioux County up to 9.
HPAI affects both wild and domestic bird populations in addition to lactating dairy cattle. While the virus can be fatal to domestic bird populations such as chickens and turkeys, dairy cattle should recover with supportive care. Dairy herds are not culled like poultry flocks.
Officials say that there is no concern about the safety of milk or dairy products for consumers. The process of pasteurization ensures that products are safe to enjoy. However, consumers should still handle eggs and poultry products by cooking them to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
There have been a number of recent cases of HPAI found in northwest Iowa in both cattle and in poultry. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is strongly encouraging Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to increase biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds.