With much of Iowa agriculture focused on finishing harvest, poultry producers are being reminded that another seasonal threat demands their attention. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, remains a concern as wild birds migrate through the state.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed a case of H5N1 HPAI in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County on October 28. It marks Iowa’s eighth confirmed detection of the virus in 2026.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the state experienced a relatively quiet year with bird flu, but recent detections in surrounding states show that the threat has not disappeared. He says changing fall weather can also influence the movement of migratory birds, potentially increasing the risk of exposure for domestic poultry.
Wild birds can carry H5N1 without showing symptoms, making them a continuing source of concern for poultry operations. While infected wild birds may appear healthy, the virus is often fatal to domestic birds, including chickens and turkeys.
Naig says the return of fall migration makes biosecurity especially important for Iowa’s poultry industry. That includes both large commercial operations and smaller backyard flocks, where contact with infected wild birds can introduce the disease.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is encouraging poultry producers to strengthen their existing biosecurity practices. Those precautions include limiting contact between domestic poultry and wild birds, as well as preventing contamination from being carried into poultry facilities.
Naig says Iowa producers have made significant investments in biosecurity, but those protections require continued attention. He notes that the virus can also be introduced through contaminated boots, clothing, and other materials brought into poultry facilities.
State officials are reminding poultry owners to watch for signs of HPAI, including sudden increases in bird deaths, reduced egg production, lack of energy or appetite, respiratory problems, and swelling or discoloration around the head and legs.
Anyone who suspects HPAI in a commercial or backyard flock should contact their veterinarian immediately. Suspected cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at 515-281-5305.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is also asking the public to report groups of five to ten or more sick or dead wild birds found in a small area to local DNR wildlife management staff.
Despite the continued detections, state officials emphasize that eggs and poultry products remain safe to consume when properly handled and cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to assess the risk to the general public as low.
For Iowa producers, the latest Sac County detection reinforces Naig’s message that biosecurity cannot become an afterthought. Even as harvest occupies much of the agricultural community’s attention, the seasonal threat of bird flu remains, and protecting poultry flocks requires continued vigilance.
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