Deadly bird flu returns to Midwest earlier than expected

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bird flu has re-emerged in the Midwest sooner than expected after several months of inactivity. The highly pathogenic disease has been detected in two commercial turkey flocks in western Minnesota and a hobby flock in Indiana, officials announced on Wednesday.

The disease was identified after a farm in Meeker County reported increased mortality last weekend, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health. The affected flock was euthanized to prevent further spread. A second flock in the county tested positive on Tuesday evening.

These are the first cases of avian influenza in Minnesota since May 31, when a backyard flock in Becker County was affected. Indiana’s case is its first since a backyard flock tested positive on June 8, which was the last detection in the Midwest until this week.

There have also been several detections in western states in July and August, including California, where over 425,000 chickens and turkeys have been culled from half a dozen commercial farms since last week. Cases have also been reported in Washington, Oregon, Utah, and a few eastern states. “While the timing of this detection is a bit sooner than we anticipated, we have been preparing for a resurgence of the avian influenza we dealt with this spring,” said Dr. Shauna Voss, the board’s senior veterinarian. “HPAI is here and biosecurity is the first line of defense to protect your birds.”

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health reported that a small hobby flock of chickens, ducks, and geese in northern Indiana’s Elkhart County tested presumptively positive on Tuesday, pending final confirmation from a federal lab.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 414 flocks in 39 states have been affected since February, resulting in the loss of over 40 million birds, primarily commercial turkeys and chickens. In Minnesota alone, 81 flocks have been struck this year, necessitating the culling of nearly 2.7 million birds.

Minnesota is the leading turkey producer in the United States. This year’s outbreak has led to higher egg and meat prices and has caused significant mortality among bald eagles and other wild birds. Zoos have also been impacted. Although the outbreak seemed to subside in June, officials had warned of a potential resurgence in the fall.

The disease is typically spread by migrating birds and only occasionally affects humans, such as farm workers. The USDA ensures that poultry from infected flocks does not enter the food supply. A major outbreak in 2015 resulted in the death of 50 million birds across 15 states and cost the federal government nearly $1 billion.

Original source: https://apnews.com/article/health-minnesota-animals-flu-animal-2f02b2d35e82feb05273d9a72e898170