Bird Flu Strikes MN: 140,000 Turkeys Affected

MEEKER COUNTY, MN — Bird flu has struck a commercial flock of turkeys in Minnesota, affecting over 100,000 birds, state authorities confirmed Wednesday.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in a flock of 140,000 turkeys in Meeker County, about 70 miles west of the Twin Cities, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The site was quarantined and the birds were killed to prevent the disease from spreading.

“Unfortunately, HPAI seems to keep popping up during the seasonal migrations in Minnesota,” State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs said in a news release. “Before today’s detection our most recent cases were in the spring of this year. Anyone who has poultry should take this detection as a clear sign to keep a close eye on their flock and initiate your strongest biosecurity practices.”

Poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact a veterinarian immediately about any of the following symptoms:

• Decrease in food or water intake;
• Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and hocks;
• Decrease in egg production;
• Sudden, unexplained death;
• Extreme depression;
• Extreme quietness;
• Difficulty breathing.

The virus is not a food supply threat, according to the Star Tribune.

The news Wednesday marks the first instance this year of bird flu in a larger commercial flock in the state, the outlet reported, noting last year a historically deadly outbreak killed over 4 million birds in Minnesota and more than 58 million nationwide.