Bird Flu Returns to Central Minnesota

ST. PAUL (KDLM) – State officials are urging poultry producers to review and observe biosecurity measures, after HPAI bird flu re-emerged in Minnesota, in a commercial turkey flock of 130,000 birds in central Minnesota’s Meeker County.

Senior Veterinarian, Doctor Shauna Voss at the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory in Willmar says things played out differently than in 2015, when there was a big outbreak in the spring with cases dropping off by June, “Very different this year: There’s a large wild population that is impacted by the influenza virus. We’ve been watching detection’s in our wild populations here in Minnesota and elsewhere across the country, as well as other detection’s in poultry across the country.”

Voss is urging producers with flocks exhibiting any clinical signs of influenza — such as a drop in water consumption or increased mortality — or if they believe the flock might have been exposed to birds with the disease, to immediately call their veterinarian.

If you are a veterinarian and receive reports of clinical signs of avian influenza, call the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline at 1-833-454-0156. After hours or weekends, call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 1-800-422-0798.