With six new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Minnesota, the number of commercial poultry birds claimed by the HPAI outbreak in that state now tops 1 million.
According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, the total number of commercial birds in Minnesota flocks that have been affected by HPAI in the state, as of April 6, is 1,017,398.
The latest cases, confirmed on April 5 include two cases in commercial turkey operations in Morrison County, with the larger flock consisting of 105,335 birds and the smaller consisting of 27,675 birds. The largest flock among the new cases was in Meeker County, and had 128,000 birds. Also affected were commercial turkey flocks in Big Stone and Stearns counties, with 52,000 and 41,350 turkeys, respectively.
A sixth new case was confirmed in Waseca County, with 26,525 birds affected. The state agency only identified that flock as one for “commercial poultry slaughter.”
These new cases follow seven earlier HPAI cases reported the previous day by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Those cases occurred in the counties of Dodge, Kandiyohi, Morrison, Becker and LeSueur. That same day, APHIS also announced new cases in the states of Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.
In total, 19 commercial poultry flocks have been affected by HPAI in Minnesota, as well as two backyard flocks. However, avian influenza cases in backyard flocks will not have any impact on international poultry trade, in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards.
So far in 2022, HPAI has been confirmed in commercial poultry flocks in the following states: North Dakota, Kentucky, Delaware, Maryland, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Indiana, North Carolina, Minnesota and Texas. The Texas case involved pheasants. The virus has also been confirmed in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Nova Scotia.
To learn more about HPAI cases in North American commercial poultry flocks, see an interactive map on WATTPoultry.com.
Read our ongoing coverage of the global avian influenza outbreak.
