Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 4/8/15


USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the eighth case of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Minnesota.

The case was discovered in a flock of 30,000 turkeys in Kandiyohi County, where the agency confirmed another case on Tuesday.

The flock is located within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified.

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.

The Minnesota Department of Health also is working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure that they are taking the proper precautions.

Meanwhile, USDA said it will notify the World Organization for Animal Health.

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.

In addition to new cases reported yesterday in the U.S., Canadian officials confirmed avian influenza in Ontario.

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