Three Area Turkey Operations Hit by Bird Flu
Three more area turkey operations have been hit by bird flu. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health says on Tuesday they diagnosed Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a flock of 30,430 commercial turkey breeder hens in Kandiyohi County, a flock of 92,021 commercial turkey meat birds in Meeker County, and a flock of 61,038 commercial turkey meat birds in Stearns County.
The virus is spread by migrating wild birds and began to show up again about one month ago. Dr. Shauna Voss at The Minnesota Poultry Testing Lab in Willmar says producers need to continue strictly abiding by biosecurity, keeping wild birds and visitors away from their operations. While there is a vaccine for bird flu, it is not approved for use by the USDA at this time because trading partners with the U.S. do not want to buy vaccinated birds.
