A fatal bird disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, has been found in a Meeker County turkey farm, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported via press release Wednesday morning.
Meeker County is a top commercial turkey producerin Minnesota, located near Willmar's Jennie-O Turkeys.
The report follows news of outbreaks in commercial poultry farms in nearby states. Should the disease be widsepread, the price of turkey may rise.
After reading about an outbreak of HPAI) at a turkey farm here in South Dakota, I tweeted:
Southeast South Dakota: “This case was in Jerauld County. Bird flu was found in a barn of turkeys and were depopulated.”#HPAI Confirmed on South Dakota Turkey Farm 🦃🦃🚜https://t.co/ArJKFEzreW
— Sally Jo Sorensen (@sallyjos) October 1On Tuesday, Steve
The term "depopulated" is poultry industry speak for killed, rather than let them die slowly from the nearly always fatal disease. The birds are not used for meat if they are stricken. It's not a pretty sight, as Bluestem reported in 2015's Shocking photos in state vet's report to Midwest lawmakers reveal bird flu toll to farmers & flocks.
On Tuesday, Steve Karnowski reported for the Associated Press in Deadly bird flu reappears in US commercial poultry flocks in Utah and South Dakota.
From the Minnesota Board of Animal Health:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed today in a commercial turkey flock of 140,000 birds in Meeker County. Samples were confirmed positive by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. The site is quarantined, and the birds on the premises were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
Poultry is safe to eat, and proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is always advised.
“Unfortunately, HPAI seems to keep popping up during the seasonal migrations in Minnesota,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs. “Before today’s detection our most recent cases were in the spring of this year. Anyone who has poultry should take this detection as a clear sign to keep a close eye on their flock and initiate your strongest biosecurity practices.”
Poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they see any signs or symptoms in their flock:
- Decrease in feed or water intake.
- Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle, and hocks.
- Decrease in egg production.
- Sudden, unexplained death.
- Extreme depression.
- Very quiet.
- Difficulty breathing.
Biosecurity is paramount to stopping the spread of this and other viruses and disease. Flock owners large and small should review their biosecurity measures to maintain the health of their birds. The University of Minnesota Extension maintains biosecurity resources for commercial and backyard flocks.
If you are a veterinarian and receive reports of clinical signs of avian influenza, call the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline at 833-454-0156 or submit a sick bird report online. If it is after hours or on the weekend, call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 1-800-422-0798. Subsequent HPAI cases will be posted on the Board's website.
Bluestem hopes poultry growers, regardless of the size of their flocks, avoid this fall's round of disease, whether through pluck or luck,
Photo: A commercial turkey flock.
Related posts
- In America's turkey industry, SD producers hit hardest by highly pathogenic avian influenza
- Board of Animal Health: Minnesota poultry sales and exhibitions temporarily banned for 31 days
- 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
- Shocking photos in state vet's report to Midwest lawmakers reveal bird flu toll to farmers & flocks
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