Last week the Minnesota Board of Animal Health detected a second case of low path avian influenza in a turkey flock. This detection came in Stearns County, following a case in Kandiyohi County. Minnesota Turkey Growers Association Executive Director Steve Olson says enhanced surveillance and tightened biosecurity helped with this detection.
He says they learned a lot from the highly pathogenic bird flu outbreak that hit Minnesota in 2015, which has helped in dealing with these low path cases.
Olson says he wouldn’t be surprised to see additional low path cases, but the best deterrent will be colder weather.
In last week’s Stearns County case the Board of Animal Health quarantined the flock of 13-week-old hens. They’ll be tested and monitored until it’s determined the flock is negative for the virus and the turkeys can be controlled marketed.
