While avian influenza cases have been widespread in Minnesota’s turkey and layer flocks, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) recently confirmed the first case of H5N2 avian influenza in a wild bird.
A Cooper’s hawk from Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
MDNR collected the hawk during the agency’s current avian influenza surveillance of wild birds, which began in March as part of the state’s response to the avian influenza outbreak that has been responsible for the deaths of millions of birds in the state’s poultry farms.
It is the first confirmed avian influenza case in Yellow Medicine County.
MDNR called for the bird to be tested after a resident reported in April that the hawk flew into the home’s deck and died. Testing was done at the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, and the bird was then sent to the National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for confirmation.
To keep informed about the avian influenza situation in North America and across the globe, bookmark WATTAgNet’s avian influenza page. Also, see the avian influenza tracker map to keep current on the latest confirmed cases of the virus in North America.
