Two more Iowa counties are joining the list of places highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says the virus has been detected in a flock of commercial layer chickens in Osceola County and in a commercial turkey flock in Cherokee County.

The latest cases, both in northwest Iowa, bring the total statewide to 12.

Flock owners are encouraged to prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual deaths to state or federal officials.

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