Two additional avian flu reports bring Minnesota to 60 infection sites

WILLMAR, Minn. — One more backyard poultry producer is among the latest sites infected with avian flu, according to the Tuesday report from the state Board of Animal Health.

A confirmed diagnosis was received Saturday, April 23, in a Rice County producer of 60 unspecified birds.

Stearns County now has its eighth site with a confirmed diagnosis on Monday, April 25, at a commercial meat turkey operation of 14,590 birds.

The Board of Animal Health's tally of confirmed diagnoses of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza now stands at 2,717,892 over 60 sites.

More on avian flu:

1. Minnesota tops nation in wild birds confirmed dead from bird flu
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3. Avian influenza at heart of shell-shocking egg price increases
4. College professor ready to learn as new Minnesota Senate Ag Committee leader

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, commercial meat turkey operations remain the vast majority of the sites. There are now five sites in the backyard producer category; three sites of commercial turkey breeder hens, all located in Kandiyohi County; and two chicken flocks in Morrison County, one broiler and one egg layer operation.