Bird flu strikes biggest Minn. farm yet; 1.1M chickens

Published 8:06 am Tuesday, May 5, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS — Bird flu has struck its biggest operation yet in Minnesota — a farm with over 1.1 million chickens in Nicollet County of south-central Minnesota.

The number of farms hit by the virus across the state has now grown to 80.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health said Monday it’s the first farm in Nicollet County with a presumptive positive test for the H2N2 virus, which has now cost Minnesota poultry producers over 5.3 million birds.

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The board also reports that Renville County has seen its first outbreak, at a farm with 12,900 turkeys. And the board also reports new cases at turkey farms in Kandiyohi, Pipestone and Swift counties.