Kandiyohi County, Lac qui Parle flocks test positive for bird flu; five sites now affected

Routine testing by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health found H5 low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in a commercial turkey flock of 40,000 birds in Kandiyohi County.

Minnesota is number one in turkey production in the nation, and Kandiyohi County is the top producing county in the state.

The Board of Animal Health also stated Tuesday that the bird flu has been detected in a Lac qui Parle County commercial turkey barn containing 23,000 birds. The first cases of H5N1 in Minnesota were confirmed on March 25, 2022.

H5 LPAI does not pose a risk to the public, and there is no food safety concern for consumers. This is not the same virus that was the cause of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in the Midwest in 2015.

The Board quarantined the flock and continues to monitor and test that flock as well as commercial poultry operations and individuals with backyard flocks within 10 kilometers for signs of the disease. Avian influenza is not a food safety issue.

The Board is working with federal, state and industry partners in its response. Poultry producers must maintain strong biosecurity practices at their facilities to isolate their flocks from outside sources of infection. Biosecurity is an integral part of the way flocks are managed and can prevent the spread of disease. Backyard flock owners should also practice strict biosecurity, including preventing birds from exposure to wild birds and other types of poultry.