Minnesota launches Bird Flu Basics campaign

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has partnered with the University of Minnesota Extension’s poultry program to spread awareness about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

(Andrea Gantz)
(Andrea Gantz)

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has partnered with the University of Minnesota Extension’s poultry program to spread awareness about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

The Bird Flu Basics series is six social media graphics that provide information on HPAI, how to detect it and how to prevent it, specifically for backyard flock owners. 

The graphics can be seen and shared on the University of Minnesota Poultry Facebook page or the Board of Animal Health Facebook page and are available in different languages including Spanish, Somali and Hmong.

For example, the second graphic is, “Detecting HPAI early is key to limiting the spread” which says “signs of illness” include “sudden unexplained death, quiet and depressed birds, purple comb and wattle and drinking less water.” 

HPAI in Minnesota 

One of the most recent HPAI outbreaks in Minnesota was May 21 at a commercial turkey farm in Dakota. With a flock size of 57,000, this is the 59th outbreak in the state. 

Minnesota is also one of four states with confirmed HPAI in foxes. 

Minnesota is the No. 1 turkey producer in the U.S. with 600 turkey farms that generate $1 billion in economic activity and provide more than 26,000 jobs, according to the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association.

HPAI in backyard flocks 

According to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, there have been 170 backyard flocks affected by HPAI in the U.S. this year. Some of the most recent confirmed cases were May 20 in Idaho, Minnesota and Wyoming, impacting 87 birds. 

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.

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