The nation’s biggest egg producer is on high alert as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to spread throughout the state of Iowa since its first significant return to the state since 2015.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the cancellation of all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings as of March 23, reports AgDay TV’s Clinton Griffiths. The order is effective immediately and will last a minimum of 30 days and until 30 days has passed without a confirmation of a new infection.
“We hate to do that, but it’s an important step,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig told Griffiths. “It’s all about trying to minimize the contact of birds and the spread of high path avian influenza.”
Mike Naig said it’s unfortunate that the U.S. is again dealing with HPAI. He expects the number of cases in Iowa to continue to grow through spring migration.
“We’ve been watching what’s been happening in the eastern United States as it’s come across the country and really moving through the flyway. It appears that wild birds are the source of this virus and those wild bird introductions are what we’re trying to combat here,” he said.
Source: APHIS
Ramp Up Biosecurity Efforts
With a long spring ahead, he said the state will need to be on high alert and producers will need to continue to find ways to improve and strengthen biosecurity efforts every single day.
Because Iowa is a significant livestock and poultry production state, Naig says foreign animal disease prevention and response preparedness has been a significant focus over the last several years.
“Whether it’s African swine fever or highly pathogenic avian influenza, we’ve got plans in place. We’ve been exercising those plans. We’ve been improving,” Naig said. “And remember, this is a joint effort between the state, the USDA, the industry and those farmers. I’m really proud of the work that’s been done to improve.”
But he said an important question must continue to be asked. Are you doing that work that you prepared for? Acting early, detecting early, depopulating early and disposing effectively are important, he said.
“If ever there was a time where we should all appreciate where our food comes from and what it takes to get it on the plate, it’s times like these,” Griffiths said.
It’s a lot for farmers right now – between a pandemic, the high cost of food, logistical disruptions, and now a foreign animal disease, he added.
“There’s always a risk. Now we’re actually dealing with it,” Naig said. “We can be very, very thankful that our system works as well as it does and that it is as resilience as it is. But we’ve got to work hard to protect our food and egg supply chain in this country.”
Back in 2015, HPAI forced the destruction of nearly 33 million birds in Iowa alone, Griffiths said. More than 50 million were destroyed nationwide in what’s considered one of the worst foreign animal disease outbreaks on record.
No human cases of avian flu have been detected in the U.S. and officials stress poultry products are still safe to eat.
Read More:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Reported in Illinois, Iowa and Kansas
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Found in Commercial Chickens in Missouri
