By Scout Nelson
Avian flu has returned to poultry farms in Minnesota and Montana, marking the end of the reprieve seen during warmer months, despite ongoing detections in wild birds and rare instances in mammals like harbor seals in Washington.
In Minnesota's Meeker County, situated in the state's central region, a turkey farm housing 140,000 birds has been hit by the outbreak. This information, provided by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, highlights the first incident of the virus in the state's poultry since May.
A far-reaching impact was felt in Montana. A poultry farm nestled in Glacier County, located in the state's northwest territory, reported an outbreak affecting 50,300 birds. This report, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), constitutes Montana's first since April.
The culprit is a strain of Eurasian H5N1 avian flu that's been making global rounds. The virus's presence in the US from early 2022 has had devastating consequences, leading to an unprecedented loss of 59.1 million birds across a staggering 47 states, as per records from APHIS.
These developments serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of avian flu, not just to wildlife but to the commercial poultry industry as well. As the situation evolves, authorities and poultry farmers alike remain observant, underscoring the importance of strict biosecurity measures to protect flocks from further outbreaks.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-suriyasilsaksom
Categories: Minnesota, Livestock, Poultry