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An outbreak of a deadly bird flu strain spread to one of the top rated poultry creating counties of the nation’s top rated turkey making state of Minnesota, government officials confirmed on Saturday, raising fears that the that the very contagious disease could seriously damage the industry.
The very pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza has infected a third turkey farm in the state, this time a industrial flock of 39,000 birds in Stearns county in central Minnesota. The county is No. 2 in turkey production in Minnesota and is also one of the state’s major chicken and egg producers.
State Veterinarian Bill Hartmann mentioned one particular of the 4 barns at the Stearns County farm was infected and that many turkeys in it had currently died. As is common process, the farm has been quarantined and the remaining birds will be killed. The discovery followed the infections of two other farms in Pope and Lac qui Parle counties of western Minnesota, which have killed thousands of turkeys.
“This is naturally a massive concern to the sector. We are very worried for the reason that of the increased turkey production in this particular region,” state Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson stated.
Hartmann said there is no apparent connection between this flock and the earlier two but investigations continue.
The announcement came one particular day following authorities announced the outbreak at the Lac qui Parle County farm, where the virus quickly killed 22,000 turkeys in one particular barn. That farm had to kill 44,000 birds in two other barns.
Scientists look at wild migratory waterfowl to be a natural reservoir for avian influenza. Though they never normally get sick from flu viruses, they can spread them through their droppings, and farm workers and rodents can track the virus into poultry barns. But top rated researchers say they do not know how the virus got to Minnesota or how it got into the closed barns.
The confirmation at the Pope County farm on March five marked the initially detection of H5N2 in the Mississippi Flyway, a major wild bird migration route. H5N2 was also located inside the next quite a few days in commercial and backyard flocks in Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas. The identical strain also has turned up in many western states in the Pacific Flyway.
More than 40 countries have banned poultry imports from Minnesota because the virus was first detected in the state. Frederickson urged poultry producers in Stearns County and elsewhere to do all the things attainable to improve their biosecurity.
“This industry is so essential to the economy of Minnesota. … It is so critical for all of us to continue to reassure our trading partners that our merchandise are certainly protected,” he stated.
State Well being Commissioner Ed Ehlinger reiterated that this H5N2 virus poses no threat to the general public and raises no meals security issues, but farm workers who’ve had speak to with the infected flocks will be monitored.
Hartmann said officials had been counting up how several flocks are positioned within the ten-kilometer-radius restricted zone about the Stearns County farm. He said all flocks within that circle are under quarantine and will be tested. Farms in a ring extending 10 kilometers farther out will be notified and asked to watch for any improved mortality in their flocks.
It really is not clear why only turkey farms have been affected in Minnesota for the reason that chickens can get the illness as well, Hartmann said.
Hartmann said he didn’t know exactly where this farm’s turkeys normally go.
The Lac qui Parle County farm supplied Jennie-O Turley Retailer, but a company statement Saturday said the Stearns County farm did not. The Pope County farm was a breeding operation.
Courtesy of Sentry Review
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