More Than 4 Million Chickens Will Be Culled at Iowa Farm Where Bird Flu Was Found

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation, enabling state and federal agencies to assist with tracking and containing the virus.

Chickens gather around a feeder at a farm in a file photo. Scott Olson/Getty Images

More than 4 million chickens will be slaughtered to prevent the spread of bird flu after the virus was detected at a commercial egg-laying facility in Iowa, the state announced on May 28.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship said in a statement that a coordinated effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture led to the detection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) case of the H5N1 strain, also known as bird flu, at a large farm in Sioux County.