O’BRIEN COUNTY, Iowa — Bird flu has been detected in a dairy herd in O’Brien County, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced on Wednesday.

Iowa is now the eighth state to have dairy herds test positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu. There have been over 80 dairy cases of HPAI on farms in South Dakota, Texas, Ohio North Carolina, Michigan, Kansas, Idaho, and Colorado.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, genomic sequencing confirmed that the virus detected at a farm in Sioux County in May appears to be the same variant affecting dairies in other states.

Sequencing for cases found at a turkey flock in Cherokee County and this dairy are not yet complete.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig released the following statement about the cases found at the dairy:

Given the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have a case given the size of our dairy industry in Iowa. While lactating dairy cattle appear to recover with supportive care, we know this destructive virus continues to be deadly for poultry. Our team at the Department has been preparing for this possibility and will soon be announcing additional response steps to protect our flocks and herds. Poultry produces and dairy farmers should immediately take steps to harden their biosecurity defenses, limit unnecessary visitors, and report symptomatic birds or cattle to the Department. This remains and evolving situation and we will continue to be in close communication with stakeholders, USDA, and other states as we evaluate our response. Our top priority is to protect our livestock and the farmers and people who care for them.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

While there have been confirmed cases of bird flu in dairy works in Texas and Michigan, the threat to the general public remains low, the Centers for Disease Control said.

For more information about bird flu in Iowa, symptoms of the virus in birds and dairy, and how to report cases visit the department’s website.