Bird flu returns to Iowa’s commercial barns: 44,400-bird Sac County turkey flock infected

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is back in Iowa’s commercial poultry barns. State and federal officials confirmed H5N1 in a commercial turkey flock of about 44,400 birds in Sac County in northwest Iowa. It’s the state’s first commercial-flock detection since December 2025, and it comes as the fall migration gets underway.

What happened

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced the case Wednesday, Oct. 28. Iowa Capital Dispatch, citing the state agriculture department, put the flock at roughly 44,400 turkeys. It’s Iowa’s eighth detection in domestic birds in 2026. All seven earlier 2026 cases were small non-commercial flocks (backyard, mixed-species or game birds), most recently 138 birds in Boone County.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Sac County the same day, effective through Nov. 27. It frees Iowa Homeland Security, IDALS and other agencies to help with tracking, rapid detection, containment, disposal and disinfection, and it waives some commercial-vehicle rules for crews responding to the site. Infected flocks are depopulated to stop the virus from spreading.

Play video: Iowa governor declares disaster proclamation for bird flu outbreak in Sac County

Why Sac County keeps getting hit

Northwest Iowa has the state’s densest concentration of poultry confinements, and Sac County has been hit repeatedly. According to American Ag Network, the county’s turkey flocks were also hit three times in 2024 and 2025 (June 2024, December 2024 and February 2025); the most recent of those, in February 2025, led to the depopulation of about 29,665 turkeys. Since the outbreak began in February 2022, APHIS counts upward of 30 million birds affected in Iowa and over 208 million across the U.S. Iowa has lost more birds than any other state.

Detections typically rise during spring and fall migration because wild waterfowl can carry the virus without looking sick. It spreads through droppings and nasal discharge that contaminate dust, soil, boots and equipment.

What producers should do now

• Tighten biosecurity. Limit visitors, keep wild birds and rodents out, and use dedicated boots and clothing per barn.
• Know the signs. IDALS lists sudden deaths without other symptoms, lethargy and loss of appetite, a drop in egg production, soft or misshapen eggs, swelling of the head, comb or wattles, purple discoloration, respiratory signs, stumbling and diarrhea.
• Report fast. Call your veterinarian immediately. Iowa producers must report suspected cases to IDALS at 515-281-5305.

Food safety and markets

Officials say the detection doesn’t pose an immediate public health concern, and properly handled poultry and eggs remain safe to eat. The CDC continues to rate the public risk as low, with no known person-to-person spread. For turkey markets, a single flock is a small share of supply heading into the holiday season. The bigger risk is a string of fall cases in the upper Midwest turkey belt.

Frequently asked questions

Where was bird flu found in Iowa in October 2026?

USDA and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza on Oct. 28, 2026, in a commercial turkey flock of about 44,400 birds in Sac County in northwest Iowa.

Is it safe to eat turkey and eggs?

Yes. Officials say the detection does not pose an immediate public health concern, properly handled poultry and eggs remain safe to eat, and the CDC rates the public risk as low.

How do I report suspected bird flu in Iowa?

Call your veterinarian immediately. Iowa producers must also report suspected cases to IDALS at 515-281-5305.