ST. PAUL, Minn. — A commercial turkey flock in Redwood County, Minn., has been confirmed with highly pathogenic avian influenza. This is the first detection in the state since April.
“Though we remain hopeful that we can eliminate HPAI in Minnesota’s poultry stock, this case was not wholly unexpected as we move into the migration season for wild waterfowl,” Dr. Shauna Voss, Minnesota Board of Animal Health assistant director, said in an announcement. “Vigilance and robust biosecurity remain the best methods for flock owners to protect poultry from avian influenza.”
This outbreak in Minnesota also comes on the heels of recent commercial turkey outbreaks affecting 10 locations in North and South Dakota.
The case in Redwood County, Minn., impacting approximately 25,000 turkey toms, began on Sept. 14 with samples taken to the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory and tested positive for the H5 strain of influenza A. These results were also confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
Officials continue to note that the threats to people remain low, and poultry producers should continue to maintain strict biosecurity safety protocols on their farms.
If sick birds are noted in Minnesota, the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline can be reached at 833-454-0156; and the MBAH posts all of the state’s detections and additional information online at https://www.mn.gov/bah/hpai.
On Sept. 19, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reported that for the previous 30 days there have been 17 confirmed flocks in the United States, which is comprised of 11 commercial flocks and 6 backyard flocks, and affecting 550,000 birds.
