Iowa health officials reported the state's first human case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) earlier this week. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the individual was exposed to infected poultry while working with a commercial flock in northwest Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday the state’s first human case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. According to a press release from the department, the individual is a commercial poultry worker who was exposed by a flock in northwest Iowa.

“Iowa has monitored the spread of avian influenza closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the established knowledge, strong partnerships, and effective tools to mitigate its impact on our community,” says HHS State Medical Director Dr. Robert Kruse.