SAC COUNTY, Iowa — Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been detected in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), this is the fourth detection of bird flu in Iowa this year. Other detections include a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County, a commercial layer flock in O’Brien County, and a multi-species backyard flock in Clinton County.

Bird flu is known to infect both wild and domestic birds, as well as dairy cows and humans. Bird flu is typically fatal to domestic birds, and while there have been instances of fatal bird flu cases in cows the IDALS said with supportive care dairy cows can recover.

In 2024 Iowa saw its first human case of bird flu and in January of this year a patient in Louisiana died after battling the disease. The Centers for Disease Control said the threat to the public remains low.

To learn more about bird flu and its signs and symptoms visit the IDALS’ website.

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