KOSSUTH COUNTY, Iowa — Officials confirmed the first Iowa Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or bird flu, case of 2026 in a Kossuth County flock.

The United States Department of Agriculture and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship say the case came from a mixed species flock of game bird pheasants and backyard chickens in Kossuth County.

This is the first confirmed case of bird flu in Iowa domestic birds in 2026. There were 10 confirmed Iowa cases in 2025, including an outbreak in a Hamilton County turkey flock and in a population of geese at two southwest Iowa lakes.

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Bird flocks or dairy cattle suspected of being infected with bird flu should be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship immediately. Symptoms include a sudden increase in deaths, lethargy, a decrease in egg production, swelling and/or discolored limbs, and difficulty breathing.

Following the announcement, Governor Kim Reynolds announced a disaster proclamation for the county from January 22 to February 21, 2026. The proclamation allows state resources from the Department of Agriculture, Iowa Homeland Security, and other agencies to assist with tracking and detecting the disease, as well as containment, disposal, and disinfection.

For more information about bird flu, visit the department of agriculture’s website.

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