As previously reported, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the presence of H5N2 avian flu at Rose Acres’ egg farm in Stuart. That means the destruction of nearly one million birds. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Communications Director Dustin Vande Hoef says local residents can do their part to prevent further spread of the flu. “We’re trying to do what we can to control the vectors. Making sure everything moving in and out of the facility is clean and disinfected. If we can limit traffic and folks who don’t need to be by there don’t go, that can help with those efforts. Hopefully that can help to not spread the disease.”

The area around the farm has been quarantined off and some roads in the vicinity remain closed. 350th Street from Pinewood Road (P20) to Riverside Avenue is closed to thru traffic and Riverside Avenue from 350th Street to 110th Street is closed to all traffic to help with this situation.