Bird flu detected in Dallas County backyard flock

A backyard chicken raised to lay eggs. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a mixed species backyard flock in Dallas County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

H5N1 strain of the bird flu has impacted more than 166 million birds in backyard and commercial poultry operations since 2022, and Iowa flocks have been hit harder than any other state, in terms of birds affected. 

The latest detection in Dallas County is the fifth detection of the bird flu in Iowa this year. The previous three detections have been in commercial turkey and egg laying facilities. 

In late February, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a plan to spend $1 billion in Commodity Credit Corporation funds to combat the ongoing crisis. The funding would go to biosecurity upgrades on farms, the repopulation of birds at affected farms and vaccine research.  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control continues to rate the public health risk of the bird flu as low, and IDALS said egg and poultry products are still safe to consume. 

Commercial and backyard poultry producers are encouraged to practice heightened biosecurity measures and to contact their veterinarians if they suspect an outbreak of the virus in their flocks. Symptoms include lethargy, coughing or wheezing, thin-shelled eggs, swollen heads or decreased egg production. 

HPAI is also present in wild and migratory birds. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources warned Iowans to avoid, and to keep their pets away from, dead or dying birds.