Avian flu infects 1 million chickens at Iowa egg farm

SIOUX FALLS, SD (Dakota News Now) – Iowa agriculture officials say another commercial egg farm has been infected with bird flu, the first farm case identified since a turkey farm was infected in April.

The latest case is in central Iowa’s Wright County, about 80 miles north of Des Moines, which has about 1.1 million chickens. Iowa has infected 15 commercial farms this year, including turkeys, egg-laying hens and other chickens.

In addition, five rear herds have been infected. Because the virus is highly contagious, all infected farm birds are killed to prevent spread. Iowa lost the most birds this year, more than 13 million, before the last farm was found to be infected. Nationally, more than 47.7 million birds have been affected in 43 states.

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