Charlie Neibergall/AP FILE - Chickens stand in their cages at a farm, in Iowa, Nov. 16, 2009.

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.

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Health officials said the individual had mild symptoms, received appropriate treatment and is recovering.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the case through lab testing.

As of Dec. 23, the CDC has calculated 65 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in the U.S. The agency maintains the public health risk is low.