Bird flu affected just over a million of Iowa?s farm birds when it swept the state last spring. As birds begin to migrate south across Iowa, are farmers prepared for another outbreak? Iowa Turkey Federation executive director Gretta Irwin said farmers have taken careful considerations when reviewing prevention plans.
?Well the farmers have been putting a lot of time and thought behind their fall preparedness for any birds that might be carrying avian influenza. They have been reviewing their biosecurity plans. Looking at their barns and figuring out how they can keep stray birds from entering their barns. I think in general just really evaluating their biosecurity procedures as to where they might want to change things up a bit,? Irwin said.
Iowa has 140 turkey farmers across the state and last spring 30 of those farms across 7 counties were affected. According to government estimates, it also cost the U.S. economy $3.3 billion. It would be another major blow if the virus came back.
?I think everyone is still very nervous if it does come back this fall. Having said that though we have seen the Iowa DNR and Minnesota DNR do wild bird testing and we?ve not seen the virus in any of those wild birds they have tested. Farmers are anxiously waiting for snow and cold weather and waiting for those birds to finish their migration south,? Irwin said.
According to the Iowa Turkey Federation?s website the bird flu is spread by wild birds who show no symptoms. There is a 21 day incubation period, during which time poultry may be infected, but will not show any signs. After the incubation period, there are few symptoms before birds begin dying. And once they start dying, it?s a matter of days before the entire flock is affected.
