x
Breaking News
More () »

Local firefighters among those dedicated to battling bird flu in Iowa

Firefighters from Burlington and Muscatine were part of a task force helping battle Iowa’s bird flu outbreak as affected farmers began applying for federal aid.
chickens bird flu poultry

Firefighters from Burlington and Muscatine were part of a task force helping battle Iowa’s bird flu outbreak.

About a half-million birds were affected as avian influenza, or bird flu, was suspected at more sites in Iowa.

As of Sunday, May 31, 2015, 22.1 million commercial layers and pullets had been euthanized, and previously-announced infected turkey sites had been depopulated, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Eighteen loads of material were transported over the May 30-31 weekend to an incinerator and two landfills, handling debris and bird carcasses from infected sites in Iowa; that brought the total number of transported containers to 76, the USDA said.

The USDA reported they had more than 1,700 people helping respond to the avian influenza outbreak in Iowa. The state also activated a task force to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Iowa.

“Fifteen members of the Iowa Hazardous Materials Task Force were activated this past weekend to assist the USDA with the monitoring of bio-security, cleaning and decontamination activities at infected premises and landfills impacted by the avian influenza outbreak,” said a June 1 statement from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. “Members of the task force are employed by fire departments from the cities of Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Muscatine and Sioux City.”

Burlington firefighters Scott Hoschek and Nathan Skifstad, along with Muscatine firefighters Patrick Gingerich and Daniel Novak, were activated to the task force according to a statement from the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Nine staffers from the Iowa Department of Agriculture were also dedicated to monitoring bio-security, cleaning and decontamination activities at infected sites.

Turkey farms in Hamilton and Calhoun counties, with a total of about 57,000 birds, had experienced increased mortality according to a June 1, 2015 report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture. The Hamilton County site was confirmed positive for H5 avian influenza; the Calhoun County site initially tested positive and confirmatory testing was pending.

State officials said increased mortality was reported at a Wright County pullet farm with an estimated 400,000 birds, and initial testing showed the facility was positive for H5 avian influenza Friday, May 29, 2015. That same day, they reported a turkey farm in Sac County, with an estimated 42,000 birds, also had increased mortality and had initial positive testing for bird flu.

The week of June 1, state officials were to meet with individual producers to help them prepare paperwork they must file for financial help to recover from losses due to the bird flu outbreak.  To encourage early reporting of disease issues, farmers are paid for euthanized animals that help stop the spread of the disease and producers are eligible for fair market value payment for birds, materials and equipment lost to depopulation.

Before You Leave, Check This Out