Iowa confirms avian flu in backyard flock
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have detected a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a multi-species backyard flock in Dallas County.
This is Iowa’s 10th detection of H5N1 HPAI within domestic birds in 2025.
H5N1 HPAI is a viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations. H5N1 HPAI can travel in wild birds without those birds appearing sick, but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which issued the news release Dec. 30, is strongly encouraging Iowa poultry producers and backyard flock owners to continue bolstering their biosecurity practices and protocols to protect their flocks. The department has numerous biosecurity resources to reference on its website at https://iowaagriculture.gov/animal-industry-division/avian-influenza.
If poultry producers or those with backyard birds suspect signs of H5N1 HPAI, they should contact their veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.
Clinical signs of H5N1 HPAI in birds may include:
Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite
Decrease in egg production
Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs
Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
Difficulty breathing
Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
Stumbling and/or falling down
Diarrhea
Food safety
It remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products. As a reminder, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wild and migratory birds
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources asks those who find 20 or more sick or dead wild birds in a small area to report their findings to local DNR Wildlife Management staff.
Public health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to believe the threat to the general public remains low. Any questions related to public health should be directed to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
List of confirmed cases
As H5N1 HPAI detections are confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, those cases are added to tracking websites located on the USDA APHIS website.
