SIOUX COUNTY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Officials confirmed that a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, otherwise known as bird flu, was detected in Siouxland on Saturday.
According to a release, the case was detected in a herd of dairy cattle in Sioux County. Officials confirmed additional cases had been detected in the county earlier this week.
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 may recover with minimal mortality rates if they receive the proper care.
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. The release noted that there are recommendations available. For dairy herds, click here. For poultry and livestock farms, click here.
The release noted 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. Consumers should still handle eggs and poultry products by cooking them to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.