Osceola County, IOWA — The Avian influenza virus, also known as bird flu, has been detected at a laying facility in Iowa, the outbreak affecting a flock of millions of hens.
The facility, in Northeast Iowa, has 5.3 million hens. They will be all be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease, The Department of Agriculture said Monday.
The facility has already been quarantined.
From the USA Today: Last week, H5N2 avian influenza was discovered in a flock of 27,000 turkeys in Buena Vista County. Those birds also were euthanized. The disease is capable of killing an entire flock within 48 hours.
Avian influenza refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Avian flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with avian flu viruses have occurred.
