Turkey Flock in Sac County, Iowa, Hit by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

By Cami Koons

The highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial turkey flock in Sac County, according to a Wednesday press release from Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.

This is the fourth detection of the H5N1 bird flu in Iowa in 2025, and the second detection in the past week. 

Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Sac County, which last had a detection of the bird flu in December, also in a commercial turkey flock.

The current bird flu outbreak has been an ongoing crisis that has affected more than 162 million commercial and backyard poultry nationwide since the start of the current outbreak, beginning February 2022. 

U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley from Iowa penned a letter Tuesday to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, calling for increased efforts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to contain the issue. 

The letter, submitted by 16 U.S. lawmakers, called for a strategy to vaccinate birds, expansion of movement controls for animals presenting risks for spreading the virus, and collaboration between USDA and industry groups. 

“A new urgency is required from the USDA to address the evolving situation,” the letter read. 

The letter also asked Rollins to provide qualified auditors to enforce an interim rule from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service that calls for enhanced biosecurity to remain eligible for indemnity payments following repeat HPAI outbreaks.

Lawmakers also urged the secretary to revise and raise indemnity payments for egg producers who have to cull their flocks following an outbreak of the bird flu.

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