More than 1 million birds affected by avian flu outbreak in Minnesota

WILLMAR, Minn. — An additional six poultry flocks diagnosed with avian flu April 5 have pushed the state of Minnesota over 1 million birds affected by the outbreak.

According to the state Board of Animal Health's daily web update posted Wednesday, the inventory of flocks diagnosed with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza is 1,017,568.

Twenty-one infection sites have been identified in the state since the first cases of the disease — which is fatal to domestic poultry — were confirmed March 25, according to the Board of Animal Health.

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Five commercial flocks of meat turkeys were diagnosed April 5 and included in Wednesday's update, as well as one commercial poultry slaughter location in Waseca County, the first infection site in
that county and the first report from a slaughter operation.

A newly diagnosed flock of 128,000 turkeys in Meeker County is the second site in that county, and a flock of 41,350 in Stearns County is the fourth there. Morrison County now has four sites, including the two new reports posted Wednesday: flocks of 27,675 and 105,335. And a flock of 52,000 in Big Stone County is the first infection reported in the far western Minnesota county.

Other previously confirmed sites include four in Kandiyohi County and single sites in Becker, Dodge, Lac qui Parle, LeSueur and Mower counties.

Most of the infections have been diagnosed in commercial turkey flocks — both meat turkeys and breeder hens. Two reports have been backyard poultry producers.

The Board of Animal Health web page on the avian flu response at bah.state.mn.us/hpai is updated each weekday.