Avian flu detected in Iowa backyard flock
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have detected a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a multi-species backyard flock in Buena Vista County.
This case is Iowa’s sixth detection of H5N1 HPAI in 2026.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 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.
PHOTO: Free-range happy chickens and roosters (Photo: Adobe Stock │ 355458909 – Sonja Birkelbach)
