Dive Brief:
- Iowa has declared a state of emergency due to rampant expansion of the bird flu. Minnesota and Wisconsin did so last month.
- The announcement came after four new poultry farms initially tested positive for the H5N2 virus, which has spread rapidly throughout the U.S.
- The state of emergency was effective immediately and means that authorities have the ability to enforce preventative measures. These include having "access to additional resources, supplies and equipment to track and contain the influenza outbreak," Reuters reported.
Dive Insight:
The hits just keep on coming for the U.S., and Iowa is the most recent state to make continual national headlines as of late. The state currently has confirmed or suspected outbreaks at 21 farms, including nine farms reported in 24 hours, as of this announcement. These outbreaks total about one-quarter of the state's flock.
The state of emergency will be in place until at least the end of May depending whether the bird flu virus continues to spread.