Bird flu outbreak in Sac County flock of 45,000 turkeys; governor proclaims disaster [Video]

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, or bird flu) has been detected in a Sac County turkey flock of approximately 45,000 birds, and Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation. 

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which disclosed the Sac County outbreak Wednesday, does not identify impacted operators. Poultry flocks that suffer bird flu outbreaks are euthanized. 

Reynolds’ disaster proclamation is in effect through Jan. 10; a press release from her office erroneously says the outbreak occurred in a flock of “commercial layer chickens.”

“This proclamation allows state resources from Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and other agencies to assist with tracking and monitoring, rapid detection, containment, disposal, and disinfection. The proclamation also waives regulatory provisions related to commercial vehicles responding to affected sites,” the governor’s press release said. 

The Sac County outbreak is Iowa’s seventh known outbreak of …