Iowa Governor Terry Branstad declared a state of emergency after millions of birds at 21 sites in 10 counties were impacted by avian flu.
“While the avian influenza outbreak does not pose a risk to humans, we are taking the matter very seriously and believe declaring a state of emergency is the best way to make all resources available,” said Branstad. “Even before the virus began in Iowa, our office was monitoring the outbreak in other states. We’ll continue our work – as we’ve been doing since the first outbreak in Buena Vista County – in hopes of stopping the virus’ aggressive spread throughout Iowa,” Governor Branstad said when the emergency was declared Friday, May 1, 2015.
The disaster emergency declaration activates the state’s emergency response plan and makes state resources, supplies and equipment available to track, detect and help control the spread of avian influenza in Iowa.
The emergency proclamation follows a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack from Iowa legislators, stressing concerns about the impact of bird flu on Iowa's citizens and economy.
Bird flu was confirmed or presumed positive at sites in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Kossuth, Madison, O’Brien, Osceola, Pocahontas, Sac and Sioux counties in Iowa.
The state of emergency proclamation was effective beginning May 1 and would continue until 11:59 p.m. May 31 unless terminated or extended by the governor.
Read the proclamation: Avian Flu Emergency Proclamation for Iowa