This week USDA officials announced that a wild duck shot in Montana was carrying the H5N2 strain of avian influenza. The finding means all poultry producers need to be vigilant in guarding against any possible spread of the disease. Steve Olson, Executive Director of the Minnesota Chicken and Egg and Turkey Growers Associations says they weren’t surprised at the finding.

He says all poultry producers need exercise caution and protect their flocks against any recurrence of the disease.

Olson says should avian influenza pop up again in Minnesota, they’re well prepared to battle it.

The sick bird in Montana was harvested for surveillance purposes. The USDA says it hasn’t found any illness in domestic flocks.