The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, in a multi-species backyard flock in Washington County, marking the state’s fifth H5N1 HPAI detection of 2026.
H5N1 HPAI is a viral disease affecting both wild and domestic bird populations. While wild birds can carry the virus without appearing sick, the disease is often fatal to domestic poultry, including chickens and turkeys.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is strongly encouraging poultry producers and backyard flock owners statewide to bolster their biosecurity practices and protocols. Additional biosecurity resources are available on the department’s website.
Poultry producers or backyard flock owners who suspect signs of H5N1 HPAI are asked to contact their veterinarian immediately and report possible cases to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305. Clinical signs in birds may include a sudden increase in deaths without prior clinical signs, lethargy, loss of appetite, decreased egg production, soft or misshapen eggs, swelling of the head and facial features, purple or blue discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs, difficulty breathing, coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, stumbling or falling, and diarrhea.
State and federal officials say eggs and poultry products remain safe to eat. Consumers are reminded to properly handle and cook poultry products to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking residents who find 20 or more sick or dead wild birds in a small area to report their findings to local DNR Wildlife Management staff.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to assess the threat to the general public as low. Questions related to public health should be directed to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Confirmed H5N1 HPAI cases are tracked and updated on the USDA APHIS website as detections are confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames.
