In response to a severe bird flu outbreak, Iowa farmers will cull over four million chickens, marking one of the worst bird flu crises in U.S. history. The highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected at a large egg farm, affecting 4.2 million egg-laying hens, as announced by state officials on May 28.
Largest outbreak since 2022
This outbreak is the largest since 2022 and the first significant case in Iowa this December. Iowa, the nation’s top egg producer, hosts nearly 12% of the country’s layer hens, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Nationwide impact and measures
The virus has also been detected in dairy cows and beef for the first time, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirming fragments of the virus in pasteurized milk. However, officials assured that beef remains safe to eat as no infected dairy cow meat entered the food supply.
Farmers in Sioux County, Iowa, are currently culling 4.2 million chickens to contain the outbreak. Last week, a similar outbreak in Minnesota led to the culling of 1.4 million chickens. Since the beginning of the outbreak in 2022, approximately 92.34 million birds have been culled nationwide, per USDA data.
Ongoing crisis and safety assurances
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship confirmed the Sioux County site as the outbreak’s epicenter. This situation surpasses the previous worst outbreak in March 2022, which affected over five million birds in Osceola County, Iowa.
Despite the severe impact on the poultry and dairy sectors, officials emphasize that the measures taken ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply.