Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad has declared a state of emergency to battle the rising toll avian influenza is taking on the state's poultry industry. "While the avian flu outbreak does not pose a risk to humans, we are taking the matter very seriously," says Branstad. The governor and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey held a press conference Friday, May 1 to make the announcement and update the situation.

Related: Iowa declares state of emergency due to bird flu

EMERGENCY: On May 1 Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency in Iowa due to the continuing outbreak of avian flu on more egg and turkey farms. Minnesota declared a state of emergency on April 24 as did Wisconsin on April 20.

"We believe declaring a state of emergency is the best way to make all resources available," said Branstad. "We will continue our work, as we have been doing since the first outbreak in Buena Vista County, in hopes of stopping this virus' aggressive spread throughout Iowa."

 The virus can spread quickly and kill chickens and turkeys within 48 hours. It was first confirmed in Iowa with an official announcement on April 20.

 Bird flu has already struck 25% of Iowa's 60 million hens
So far, 21 poultry farm sites located in 10 counties have cases that are presumed or confirmed positive for avian influenza. The counties include Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Kossuth, Madison, O'Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Sac and Sioux.

 The Iowa Department of Agriculture announced four more bird flu cases on May 1, including a chicken operation with an estimated 1 million birds in Madison County and three turkey farms in Sac, Pocahontas and Cherokee counties. Once the virus is found at a site, all birds must be killed to prevent spread of the disease.

 While the virus has hit Iowa hardest, it has affected other states, too. Nationally, poultry producers must kill more than 21 million turkeys and chickens because of the virus.

"Iowa's poultry farms are an important part of our state's agriculture industry," says Northey. "This disease is having a far reaching impact and, unfortunately, it has continued to spread. We have seen tremendous support and coordination from state, federal and local partners. This emergency declaration will allow the state of Iowa to respond aggressively to this disease outbreak."

It's important to step up the state's response to bird flu
Iowa is the third state to declare a state of emergency due to the avian flu virus. The others are Wisconsin and Minnesota, which declared states of emergency in April. Iowa is the top egg-producing state in the U.S. and ranks ninth in turkey production.

The Iowa governor's state of emergency proclamation, in effect until May 31 unless terminated earlier, activates disaster response and recovery procedures for the state's homeland security and emergency management personnel. It also authorizes use of state resources, supplies, equipment and materials to track and monitor bird flu, establish restrictions around affected farms and assist in the rapid detection of cases.

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In addition, the proclamation allows state agencies to help in the disposal of poultry carcasses, an increasing problem in a state where approximately 25% of its 60 million egg-laying chickens will be wiped out. If there are more incidences of avian flu, that percentage will increase. So far, Iowa's loss of 16 million hens amounts to about 5% to 6% of the U.S. egg laying flock.

Iowa's disaster proclamation is effective immediately
"This disaster declaration by the governor is effective immediately and will continue until May 31, unless it is terminated sooner or if it is extended by the governor," says Northey. According to information released by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and the governor's office, the proclamation includes:

* Activating the disaster response and recovery portions of the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department's Iowa Emergency Response Plan.

* Authorizing the deployment of state resources, supplies, equipment and materials deemed necessary by Northey to monitor the virus, detect new cases, contain the spread and lessen the risk of disease.

* Temporarily authorizing the Iowa Homeland Security, the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Iowa Department of Public Safety, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Public Health, and other state agencies and law enforcement agencies and private contractors to remove and dispose of live animals and animal carcasses on publicly or privately-owned land when they threaten public health and safety.

* Authorizing those agencies to implement movement and loading restrictions and other control zone measures, including buffer zones, checkpoints and cleaning and disinfecting operations at checkpoints and borders surrounding any quarantine areas to stop the spread of this contagious disease.

* Authorizing state agencies to assist in disinfection, depopulation and livestock carcass disposal efforts.

* Temporarily waiving restrictions to allow for timely and efficient disposal of poultry carcasses.

* Temporarily suspending regulatory provisions for commercial vehicle drivers hauling poultry carcasses infected with avian influenza.

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Assuring the public regarding food safety concerns
Iowa has about 60 state employees working to quarantine commercial and domestic backyard flocks and test birds within 6.2 miles of infected operations. USDA also has teams in Iowa working with poultry farms, deciding on how to best depopulate and dispose of infected birds. "Again, we want to emphasize that this strain of HPAI has shown no cases of infecting humans through either direct contact or consuming poultry or eggs," says Northey. Also, federal and state officials are assuring the public that chickens and turkeys on affected farms will not enter the food system.

The state of Iowa's disaster proclamation can be viewed here at governor.iowa.gov.

Minnesota declared a state of emergency on April 24, as did Wisconsin on April 20. For the latest information on Iowa outbreaks and confirmed cases of HPAI or highly pathogenic avian influenza in Iowa visit iowaagriculture.gov/avianinfluenza.asp/. For all HPAI findings nationwide and more information about this disease, visit USDA's APHIS website at aphis.usda.gov.

If you have questions, the Iowa Concern Hotline is now accepting calls on avian influenza and is available 24 hours a day. All calls are free and confidential and anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to call 800-447-1985.