The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship on Thursday announced that their order issued in November canceling all live bird exhibitions at fairs and other gatherings of birds due to highly pathogenic avian influenza has been lifted.
The order also prohibited live birds from being sold or transferred at livestock auction markets, swap meets, and exotic sales.
It has been 30 days since the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed a new infection of avian influenza in domestic poultry in Iowa. The last confirmed case was announced on December 12th.
Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig says commercial poultry producers and those with backyard birds should continue to be vigilant with their biosecurity because this disease still poses a serious ongoing risk. Naig says they remain ready to quickly respond should spring migration bring another enhanced level of threat.
Commercial and backyard flock owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds. And sick birds or unusual deaths among birds should be immediately reported to state or federal officials. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent avian influenza detections in birds do not present a public health concern. It remains safe to eat poultry products.
