A strain of highly pathogenic bird flu has been detected in an egg-laying chicken farm in Iowa this week. The farm, Sunrise Farms, an affiliate of Sonstegard Foods, is located near the city of Harris, reports the Washington Post. The facility houses 3.8 million hens, according to the company, which sells eggs to food manufacturers, government agencies and retailers.

Bill Northey, Iowa’s agriculture secretary, said that the loss of the flock would represent more than 6% of the egg-laying birds in the state and more than 1% of the U.S. flock.

“There definitely will be some customers that will be impacted by this,” he said.

Last week, three Wisconsin poultry flocks were infected by the avian flu, totaling 326,000 birds. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker declared a state of emergency as a result.

Source: Reuters via Washington Post