The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reports the first case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza for 2025. (Photo by Stephen Ausmus/USDA)
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has confirmed the state’s first 2025 detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza with a case in a multi-species backyard flock in Clinton County.
This follows a series of detections in commercial and backyard flocks across the state beginning in December 2024.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also reported a resurgence of the H5N1 bird flu in wild birds in the same month.
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Avian influenza is listed as a low public health risk according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infections to humans have come from direct contact with dairy cattle, commercial, backyard or wild birds that had the virus. Poultry, egg and dairy products are still safe for consumption.
Iowa reported its first case of the virus infecting a human Dec. 20. Reports from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services at the time said the individual had mild symptoms and was recovering.
Alex Murphy, the director of communications for the department, said the diagnosed individual has recovered and no other cases have been detected in Iowa humans.
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“Any individual with direct contact who develops flu-like symptoms or an eye infection should contact their doctor,” Murphy said in an email to Iowa Capital Dispatch. “To reduce the risk of infection or spread, people in direct contact with exposed animals should wear proper PPE and avoid direct contact with sick or dead animals, including birds.”
The Louisiana Illuminator reported Monday the patient who contracted the first severe infection of the bird flu in the U.S. has died.
The patient, who had been hospitalized since mid-December after coming into contact with birds in a backyard flock and wild birds, had underlying health conditions and was over the age of 65.
According to the Illuminator, health workers in the state have not identified additional cases of the H5N1 virus in other humans, “nor evidence of person-to-person transmission.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for counties with commercial flock outbreaks in early December. On Jan. 2, Reynolds extended the disaster proclamations, set to expire the first week of the month, for O’Brien, Palo Alto, Sac, Sioux, and Worth counties through Feb. 1. The purpose of the disaster proclamations is to ease the depopulation and containment of infected flocks.
IDALS urged commercial and backyard producers to contact their veterinarians immediately if they suspect birds have HPAI and to follow the heightened biosecurity measures listed on the department’s website.
Iowans should also contact their local wildlife biologist if they find five or more sick or dead wild birds within a week.
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