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WILLMAR — Five more sites of avian flu infection have been identified in Minnesota since this time last week, all classified as backyard producers.
Minnesota remains just under 2.9 million birds impacted by avian flu, changed little since the May 10 report by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.
The tally of confirmed diagnoses of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza as of May 17 stands at 2,895,350.
According to the daily reports shared by the Board of Animal Health, Crow Wing County has its first infection site, a flock of 145 birds confirmed as diagnosed May 10. Reports of backyard producers do not specify the type of poultry.
Todd County has its fifth location of infection, a flock of 52 birds also confirmed May 10.
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Chisago County has its fourth and fifth sites this week, 155 birds confirmed May 11 and 37 birds confirmed May 12.
The first site in Grant County is 309 birds confirmed May 12.
The first Minnesota cases of the disease — which is fatal to domestic poultry — were confirmed March 25. Flocks that are infected are destroyed.
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The Board of Animal Health's web page devoted to avian flu response in the state — which can be found at bah.state.mn.us/hpai — is updated by noon each weekday with the information that is known about poultry infection sites. Data from previous days also may be updated by quality control staff if more accurate information is gathered later.
Recently, several more backyard producers have been confirmed, and that production category now stands at 18 sites, according to that web page. Commercial meat turkey operations remain the vast majority of the 75 sites statewide. There have now been four sites of commercial turkey breeder hens, and two chicken flocks in Morrison County, one broiler and one egg layer operation.
