Avian influenza strikes farm with 1.1 million chickens

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health on May 4 announced eight poultry flocks (both turkey and chickens) presumed to have avian influenza, affecting more than 1.3 million birds, including an outbreak at one farm with 1.1 million chickens.

See WATTAgNet's avian influenza map to keep updated on avian influenza outbreaks in the United States and Canada. 

The following Minnesota counties are affected in this outbreak:

1. Renville – First detection in county (12,900 turkeys)
   
   
2. Nicollet – First detection in county (1,102,900 chickens) 
   
   
3. Kandiyohi – 27^th detection (89,200 turkeys)
   
   
4. Kandiyohi – 28^th (barns are being cleaned and disinfected due to exposure to potentially-infected birds)
5. Kandiyohi – 29^th detection (11,200 turkeys)
   
   
6. Pipestone – Second detection (72,200 turkeys)
   
   
7. Swift – Fourth detection (46,200 turkeys)
   
   
8. Swift – Fifth detection (turkeys, flock size TBD)

Minnesota avian influenza as of May 4

• Total number of affected farms – 80
• Total number of counties – 21
• Total number of birds – 5,336,232 (not including pending flocks)

All affected farms remain under quarantine.   

Response to avian influenza outbreaks in Minnesota

As of May 4, animal health officials have completed the following response zone activities:

• Appraisals have been approved for 76 of the affected premises.
• Birds on 71 of the affected farms have been euthanized.
• Composting is in progress on 68 of the affected farms. Animal health officials and producers are working on carcass disposal on other farms.
• 650 backyard flocks falling within the control areas of affected farms have been sampled.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the state’s ongoing response to avian influenza.