The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship confirmed on Thursday that a commercial turkey flock in Calhoun County, containing approximately 42,000 birds, has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). This marks Iowa's first confirmed case since April, and the eighth detection in state flocks during 2025. The diagnosis was validated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Despite the federal government shutdown, APHIS continues operations related to HPAI surveillance and response under its regulatory authority. In response to the outbreak, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation effective through November 1, unlocking state resources to assist IDALS and partner agencies in monitoring, containing, and disposing of infected or exposed birds.

Iowa's outbreak occurs amid a broader regional surge: South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have all recorded HPAI cases as of September, according to APHIS data. The virus continues to threaten poultry operations across the Upper Midwest.

Since the national outbreak began in February 2022, over 178 million birds have been impacted. The economic burden to producers, processors, and the supply chain has been massive, amplified by rising input costs, transportation disruptions, and lost trade.

IDALS is urging all poultry operations-commercial and backyard-to strengthen biosecurity protocols immediately. Signs of infection may include:

• Lethargy and sudden death

• Drop in egg production, soft or thin egg shells

• Swelling of head, comb, or wattle

• Respiratory distress, coughing

• Diarrhea

Producers are instructed to contact their veterinarians without delay if they suspect HPAI. Although egg and poultry products remain safe for consumption, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handling sick or dead birds is discouraged. While human infections are rare, they have been documented among those with direct exposure. Current public health risk remains low.

This detection in Iowa underscores how vulnerable U.S. poultry operations remain to highly transmissible zoonotic pathogens. For Iowa's substantial turkey industry-integrated into regional supply chains and export markets-the outbreak could disrupt commodity flows, erode market confidence, and drive additional risk premiums.

From a policy standpoint, state and federal agencies must coordinate surveillance, compensation mechanisms, and containment. The disaster proclamation in Iowa mirrors earlier emergency responses in other states facing HPAI. For producers navigating tight margins, losses due to livestock depopulation, trade bans, and sanitation costs could compound existing input-price pressures.

The outbreak also tests the resilience of crop-livestock integration, as feed demand, logistics, and animal health networks intersect. In the broader context of the Farm Bill, disease preparedness, emergency funding, and biosecurity investments are poised to be key battlegrounds for producers and policymakers alike.