Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Calhoun County Turkey Flock

By Cami Koons

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Calhoun County according to a Thursday news release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

This is the first detection of the H5N1 bird flu in Iowa since April, but the eighth detection in Iowa flocks in 2025.

The detection was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS, which despite the government shutdown is permitted to continue work pertaining to HPAI. 

According to IDALS, there were about 42,000 birds in the affected commercial turkey flock. 

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for the county, extending through Nov. 1. The proclamation makes state resources available to IDALS and other agencies as they monitor, contain, detect and dispose of birds exposed to the virus. 

Nearby states, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin all reported outbreaks of HPAI in September, according to the APHIS database. 

HPAI continues to be a threat to poultry farmers, and since the current outbreak began in February 2022, more than 178 million birds have been impacted. 

IDALS urged poultry producers to bolster biosecurity efforts at their commercial and backyard operations. Producers should also contact their veterinarians immediately if they suspect birds are infected with the virus. Common symptoms include lethargy, decreased egg production, thin or soft shelled eggs, swelling of the head, comb or wattle, difficulty breathing, coughing and diarrhea. 

Egg and poultry products remain safe to eat, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC also recommends avoiding contact with sick or dead birds if possible. Some cases of HPAI in humans have been reported over the span of the outbreak, though the affected individuals had come into direct contact with sick birds. The current public health risk of the H5N1 bird flu is low, according to the CDC.

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