4 new cases of bird flu reported

Published 5:05 pm Saturday, May 30, 2015

ST. PAUL — Four more Minnesota turkey farms have been struck by bird flu, pushing the state’s total over 100.

The Board of Animal Health on Friday reported presumptive positive tests from flocks in Kandiyohi, Renville and Brown counties, while Blue Earth County recorded its first detection since the H5N2 virus was first confirmed in Minnesota in early March.

The new cases raise the total of affected Minnesota turkey and chicken farms to 102. The outbreaks have cost producers over 8.3 million birds, not counting some newer cases for which flock sizes are still pending.

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All affected commercial farms remain under quarantine. However, officials recently lifted quarantines on 14 backyard flocks in Lac qui Parle County that had been in place since March 27 when the state recoded its second H5N2 outbreak.