Since we posted Board of Animal Health: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza confirmed in two Minnesota flocks on March 26, flocks at three commercial turkey farms in Stearns, Kandiyohi and Lac Qui Parle Counties have a proven diagnosis of HPAI.
In addition to acting on the infected sites, the BAH is acting to stop the spread of the disease. A press release from the Board today:
Minnesota poultry sales and exhibitions temporarily banned for 31 days
St. Paul, Minn. - Due to multiple detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Minnesota and surrounding states, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health is issuing a 31-day statewide ban on all poultry sales and exhibitions effective Friday, April 1 through Sunday, May 1. The ban includes all poultry community sales, swaps, fairs, exhibitions and other events where poultry and susceptible birds are brought together. The current H5N1 HPAI outbreak in Minnesota poses a high risk to poultry but low risk to the public and there is no food safety concern for consumers.
“Viruses like HPAI need hosts to continue to spread,” said State Veterinarian, Dr. Beth Thompson. “It’s our job to stop the spread of disease. Unfortunately, in this situation we feel one of the best things we can do for the health of all birds in Minnesota is to take a pause on poultry events through May 1.”
Direct sales of baby poultry either in stores or via mail by National Poultry Improvement Plan authorized sellers are still allowed.
Follow the latest information on HPAI and detections of HPAI in Minnesota, as well as resources for poultry owners on the Board’s website: www.mn.gov/bah/hpai. Additionally, the state activated a new HPAI hotline for anyone with poultry to ask questions or for anyone to report sick birds at 1-833-454-0156. Flock owners should be practicing strict biosecurity around their birds and reporting any suspicious illness to their veterinarian or the Board immediately.
Apparently, such restricted movement is a standard tactic in fighting livestock and poultry diseases. Who knew?
There's a bit more from Forum News Service capitol reporter Dana Ferguson at the West Center Tribune in Minnesota sets 1-month ban on poultry sales, exhibitions due to bird flu:
. . . State officials earlier this week announced that United States Department of Agriculture emergency responders were set to travel to Minnesota and aid in the state's surveillance and containment efforts after several flocks were reported to be positive for influenza.
State agriculture and animal health leaders said poultry flock owners should follow strict biosecurity protocols and report any suspicious symptoms in their birds to the board immediately. They also set up a designated hotline for anyone to report sick flocks or to ask questions at 1-833-454-0156.
We're certainly hoping poultry flock (large and small) owners observe the strict biosecurity protocols and report symptoms in their birds. Minnesota and neighboring states certainly learned to do better after the 2015 outbreak.
Related posts:
- Board of Animal Health: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza confirmed in two Minnesota flocks
- SD Game, Fish & Parks: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detected in South Dakota
- Associated Press: Bird flu detected among commercial flock in southeastern South Dakota
- Minnesota Reformer: Menacing bird flu detected in western Iowa backyard chicken and duck flock
Photo: Turkeys in a contemporary turkey barn. Stock photo--not the Meeker County commercial flock whose owner reported mortality and signs of depression, before a positive test occurred.
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