WILLMAR, Minn. — Additional avian flu infection sites confirmed in Minnesota between Friday and Monday's state report added nearly a quarter-million to the total of birds impacted.
The state Board of Animal Health's tally of confirmed diagnoses of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza now stands at 2,703,242 over 58 sites.
Four new sites are on the list as of the April 25 update, all commercial meat turkey operations with confirmed diagnoses on Thursday and Friday. Otter Tail and Todd counties have their fourth sites listed, flocks of 27,340 and 37,038 respectively. The third flock in Swift County reported Monday numbers 127,385, and the second Yellow Medicine County site is 46,000 birds.
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.
According to that page, all but nine of the infected sites in the state so far have been reported as commercial meat turkey operations. Four are backyard producers; three are commercial turkey breeder hens, all located in Kandiyohi County; and there have been two chicken flocks in Morrison County, one broiler and one egg layer operation.
