Last week the USDA confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza in a second commercial flock in Tennessee. The flock of 55,000 chickens has been depopulated and surveillance and testing for the disease is ongoing. Minnesota Turkey Growers and Chicken Association Executive Director Steve Olson is not surprised by this latest case. He notes Minnesota Senator Al Franken had written President Trump expressing his concern about further spread of bird flu.

He says Minnesota’s poultry growers have done a great job in responding to bird flu in the past and enhanced their biosecurity efforts. Olson says it’s good Tennessee state officials have taken the lead to help poultry producers with any HPAI concerns.

Olson says the latest flocks in Tennessee that contracted the virus were older birds.

Olson says it’s important that producers and state and federal officials remain diligent in battling against any future highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks.