The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in an additional four commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota.
There are thirteen total confirmed cases in Minnesota.
These flocks are within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified.
CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low.
No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.
The affected flocks are in:
- Cottonwood County – 48,000 turkeys
- Lyon County – 66,000 turkeys
- Stearns County 45,000 turkeys (4th detection in the county)
- Watonwan County – 30,000 turkeys
Samples from the turkey flocks, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings. NVSL is the only internationally recognized AI reference laboratory in the United States. APHIS is working closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.
