Animal health officials have detected bird flu in a turkey flock in Redwood County, the first new confirmed case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Minnesota poultry since April.

The state Board of Animal Health said the flock of about 20,000 turkey toms experienced an unusually high number of deaths. Lab tests confirmed they had influenza A and the H5 strain of bird flu. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s national lab in Ames, Iowa, confirmed the results.

The new case is not entirely surprising as wild waterfowl begin their fall migration, said Dr. Shauna Voss, assistant director of the Board of Animal Health.

“Vigilance and robust biosecurity remain the best methods for flock owners to protect poultry from avian influenza,” Voss said.

Animal health officials and the poultry in

See Full Page