The United States is facing ongoing challenges with the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), despite intensified biosecurity measures.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), in conjunction with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, has reported a sixth outbreak in Iowa, marking the fourth occurrence within a span of 11 days.
The latest incident involves a commercial turkey flock in Buena Vista County, which has seen close to 100,000 HPAI cases since October 23, as per the USDA’s outbreak map. Previous instances in Iowa were recorded in Guthrie and Pocahontas Counties.
In a separate development, a commercial gamebird facility in Chilton County, Alabama, has been hit by an outbreak, impacting approximately 296,500 birds.
Additionally, two backyard flocks in Matanuska Susitna County, Alaska, have been affected, with a total of 40 birds reported to have contracted the disease.
These recent outbreaks have increased the number of US states dealing with HPAI to 14, coinciding with the commencement of the 2023 fall bird migration, as indicated by the latest USDA data. The situation remains under close observation as authorities and producers work to contain the spread of the virus.
