Avian Influenza Still A Threat

Correction: Story changed to reflect that there were a couple of affected commercial turkey flocks in September.

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is saying additional H5N1 Avian Influenza cases are possible.

Assistant Director Erik Jopp says the current strain is slightly different than the one that ravaged the state seven years ago and that means it is affecting wild birds in a greater way.

“It is definitely affecting more animals that we’re seeing than what it did back in 2015.”

Jopp says the agency has better testing and an increased surveillance program for wild animals this time around, but even adjusting for that the virus is still more dangerous to a greater variety of birds.

Commercial turkey flocks in Stearns County and central Minnesota have been spared so far this month from avian influenza after a tough spring, but there were multiple cases in central Minnesota in September. Jopp says the lull could end as wild animals will be on the move soon.

“We know it is in the wild population. So, we have been watching around the country. It seems like it’s coming back this fall with the fall migration.”

Jopp says it takes about two months to sanitize a commercial flock facility after avian influenza is detected. Then you have to raise the new birds to maturity. Egg and poultry prices at the grocery store have soared as a consequence of this year’s H5N1 outbreak.

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