Bird flu detections reported at 11th northwest Iowa dairy

Bird flu infection has been detected in another dairy herd in cow herd Sioux County, adding to the growing list of northwest Iowa sites hit by the disease.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture on Saturday announced the detection of latest outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1. It's the 11th Iowa dairy where H5N1 has been detected this year, with two others detected in Sioux County on Friday in herds of 50 and 45 cows. The number of cows in the latest herd has not yet been released.

The new infection brings the total discovered in Sioux County to nine, with the initial case found June 5 in O'Brien County and another in Plymouth County.

More: Concerns grow as 'gigantic' bird flu outbreak runs rampant in US dairy herds

So far this year, there have been three poultry infections, all in northwest Iowa. The first was in a flock of 4.2 million egg-laying chickens. Two turkey flocks also have been confirmed with H5N1.

Infected poultry flocks are euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease, which is deadly to domestic fowl. Cows typically recover after experiencing mild symptoms.

Iowa ag secretary: If infection suspected, get cows tested

More: Would vaccines stop bird flu, now jumping from poultry to dairy cows? It's complicated.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, visiting a Madison County Christmas tree farm last week, told Des Moines Register he encourages dairy farmers who suspect their cows are infected to get them tested.

"If you're seeing loss of milk production or you've got sick animals, we would encourage people to test," Naig said. "Having more testing done will provide just more information to the whole industry about what's happening."

The disease is believed to be carried by migrating wild birds that often don’t appear sick. It has been reported in 11 states, in addition to Iowa, since March, when the virus was first detected in dairy cows.

However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said the spread of H5N1 between states among dairy cows is likely linked to cattle the movement between farms of cattle that have bird flu but have not yet been diagnosed. The agency also suggested some of the infected farms shared equipment and workers.

More: Bird flu outbreak spreads to mammals in 31 states. At least 21 cats infected. What to know

The Iowa Department of Agriculture has strongly encouraged poultry producers and dairy farmers to bolster their biosecurity practices and protocols to protect their flocks and herds.

Three U.S. dairy workers who were in contact with infected cows have been diagnosed with mild cases of bird flu. Mexico recently reported the first human bird flu death in the current wave of infections, according to the World Health Organization.

Naig said there have been no reports of people ill with bird flu in Iowa.

"To date, there have been no confirmed cases like we have seen in some other states," he said.

Food supply safe, but avoid raw milk, federal officials advise

Federal officials say the U.S. food supply is safe. Only milk from healthy cows is allowed in interstate commerce, and pasteurization is required, ensuring any harmful bacteria and viruses are killed.

Federal officials warn against consuming raw milk since it may be a "route of consumer exposure" to the virus. Iowa is one of about 30 states that allow raw milk sales.

Currently, a federal epidemiological strike team, requested by Naig at the beginning of June, is conducting research in Iowa to help determine the cause of its spread.

More: Be 'alert but not alarmed' about bird flu, CDC official urges.

"There is a lot of research going on right now around infected premises," Naig said. "If we can learn what some of those causes are or those pathways, then farms can implement biosecurity strategies to mitigate and to prevent those thingsig said the agency has requested federal aid for affected Iowa poultry and dairy farms and assistance in disease research and response. The measures include compensation for dairy cattle culled because of the disease and for loss of dairy production, and updated indemnity tables for poultry that he said "better reflect the fair market value of the impacted birds and/or eggs."

Des Moines Register staff writer Donnelle Eller contributed to this article.

Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 11th northwest Iowa dairy found to have cows with bird flu