11 October 2023
Highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed Wednesday in Minnesota for the first time this fall.
The bird flu was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Meeker County, in west-central Minnesota.
A lab of the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed positive samples from the flock of around 140,000 birds, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The site is quarantined and turkeys were slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease.
“Unfortunately, HPAI seems to keep popping up during the seasonal (bird) migrations in Minnesota,” State Veterinarian Brian Hoefs said in a statement. “Before today’s detection our most recent cases were in the spring of this year. Anyone who has poultry should take this detection as a clear sign to keep a close eye on their flock and initiate your strongest biosecurity practices.”
The Board of Animal Health says poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact their veterinarian if they see symptoms in their flocks, which include:
Decrease in feed or water intake.
Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and hocks.
Decrease in egg production.
Sudden unexplained death.
Extreme depression.
Very quiet.
Difficulty breathing.
The Board of Animal Health also recommends that farmers review their biosecurity measures to help maintain the health of their flocks.
Bird flu last year cost U.S. poultry producers nearly 59 million birds across 47 states, including egg-laying chickens and turkeys and chickens raised for meat, making it the country’s deadliest outbreak ever, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures. The outbreak caused spikes in egg and turkey prices for consumers and cost the government over $660 million.
Poultry remains safe to eat. Poultry and eggs should always be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
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