Avian influenza is spreading through chicken and turkey farms throughout the Midwest. Iowa is the third state to declare a state of emergency over the highly infectious virus. Iowa produces more eggs than any other state.
Governor Terry Brandstad's declaration was made on Friday and the state of emergency will last until at least the end of May. Minnesota and Wisconsin declared states of emergency last month. The strain of bird fly, in the H5 family, probably came to the Midwest from a migrating wild bird.
Declaring a state of emergency gives the state government of Iowa the power to enforce preventive measures and gives the state additional resources, supplies, and equipment to track and contain the outbreak. It allows state authorities to remove and dispose of infected birds on both private and public land. The state can also set up checkpoints and road blocks to prevent the transportation of infected birds.
Twenty-one firms in 10 counties in Iowa are affected by the outbreak. The outbreak has affected 16 million hens in Iowa, which is at least one-quarter of the state's egg producing chickens. One egg farm that was infected houses more than 5 million hens, while another has 1 million. All infected birds must be killed and disposed of.
The outbreak of avian flu is affecting international trade. Many countries have banned the importation of poultry or poultry products from the United States since the outbreak started in December.