Two more Iowa dairy herds reported with avian flu

By Jack O’Connor

Two more reports of avian flu in Sioux County dairy herds were announced on Thursday, marking the 13th report of bird flu in dairy cattle herds in Iowa for June. 

Sioux County’s problems with bird flu continue as these two recent reports leave the county with 12 reports of cattle herds and one chicken flock infected with the virus.

These two most recent cases of bird flu infected a 980-cow herd and one with 2,500 cattle. Cows generally recover from the virus within two weeks. The virus is typically deadly to poultry and flocks are culled to prevent spread of the infection.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced new rules for dairy cattle in exhibitions on Tuesday in hopes of limiting the spread of the disease. 

Also on Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced four states – Nebraska, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas – would voluntarily test for bird flu in bulk milk tanks at dairies. Pasteurization kills the virus, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the agency is urging people to avoid drinking raw milk.

Outside of Sioux County, Sac, Plymouth, Cherokee and O’Brien counties have each had one report of bird flu.

Infections of Iowa flocks and herds this year include:

• June 27: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 2,500 cattle.
• June 27: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 980 cattle.
• June 24: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 5,000 cattle.
• June 21: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 500 cattle.
• June 21: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 45 cattle.
• June 20: A commercial turkey flock in Sac County with about 46,000 birds.
• June 19: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 100 cattle.
• June 17: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 10,000 cattle.
• June 15: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 520 cattle.
• June 14: A dairy herd in Plymouth County with about 3,000 cattle.
• June 14: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 1,000 cattle.
• June 12: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 1,700 cattle.
• June 7: A dairy herd in Sioux County with about 250 cattle.
• June 5: A dairy herd in O’Brien County with about 4,500 cattle.
• June 2: A commercial turkey flock in Cherokee County with about 103,000 birds.
• May 28: A commercial egg-laying chicken flock in Sioux County with about 4.2 million birds.

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