Bird Flu Detected in Becker County

(KNSI) – The highly contagious bird flu spreads to more commercial turkey farms in Minnesota. The Board of Animal Health says the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has now turned up in Morrison, Becker, Dodge and LeSueur County.

HPAI was first found on poultry farms in Meeker and Mower County on March 25th. The virus was then found in Stearns, Kandiyohi, and Lac Qui Parle County. Animal health officials said the virus has spread in Stearns and Kandiyohi County, going from one infected site in each county to three.

Last week, Stearns County had one commercial flock of 23,738 turkeys infected. This week, a second commercial turkey operation with 28,000 birds tested positive and a backyard producer with 115 birds found the virus in its flock. Another 89,000 turkeys on two commercial sites in Kandiyohi County were also added to the list.

Minnesota is the nation’s top turkey producing state with more than 600 turkey farms and stakeholders, generating over $1 billion in economic activity and more than 26,000 jobs.

In 2015 the same bird flu killed more than 9,000,000 birds in infected more than 100 farms. The 2022 outbreak has affected 581,933 birds on 13 sites.