New infection sites include Renville, Swift counties as Minnesota reaches 1.37M birds impacted by avian flu

WILLMAR — An additional seven poultry flocks diagnosed with avian flu were reported Monday, including the fifth commercial turkey flock in Kandiyohi County and the first sites in Renville County and Swift County.

The flock of 145,000 commercial meat turkeys in Swift County is among the largest flocks to date diagnosed with H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, according to the state Board of Animal Health's daily web update.

Renville County's first reported infection site is 76,381 commercial meat turkeys.

The additional flock in Kandiyohi County is 21,250 commercial turkey breeder hens. The previous four reports in Kandiyohi County have been from two breeder hen flocks and two meat turkey flocks.

Stearns County now also has five infection sites with an additional flock of commercial meat turkeys numbering 26,293. One report there has been from a backyard producer and the rest are all meat flocks.

Other new infection sites reported Monday were a flock of 20,438 in Waseca County, 30,000 birds in Otter Tail County, and 38,000 in LeSueur County, all of them commercial meat turkeys.

According to the state Board of Animal Health, the inventory of flocks diagnosed with avian influenza is now at 1,373,664 encompassing 28 infection sites. The new reports posted Monday included diagnoses confirmed April 7-9.

The first Minnesota cases of the disease — which is fatal to domestic poultry — were confirmed March 25, according to the Board of Animal Health.

More on avian flu:

1. Minnesota tops nation in wild birds confirmed dead from bird flu
2. Avian influenza tops Willmar roundtable discussion, but ag producers have many other concerns for Farm Bill
3. Avian influenza could rise again as migratory season approaches
4. Adam Minter: Want to control bird flu? Vaccinate the chickens!

One previous report has been reclassified by the Board of Animal Health. The first infection site in Waseca County confirmed April 5 was originally listed as a slaughter location but its production type has since been changed to commercial meat turkeys.

According to information from the Board of Animal Health, responders enter the data with what is known when the case arises, and quality control staff routinely review the data later for consistency and may make changes to give a more accurate description of the premises.

There have been two reports from backyard poultry producers, three from commercial turkey breeder hen flocks in Kandiyohi County, and the rest of the 28 sites have been meat turkeys.

Other affected counties include Becker, Big Stone, Dodge, Lac qui Parle, Meeker, Morrison and Mower.

The Board of Animal Health web page on the avian flu response at bah.state.mn.us/hpai is updated each weekday.