Low pathogenic avian influenza found in flock of Minnesota turkeys | Minnesota News

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (AP) – Animal health officials said on Tuesday that a strain of bird flu had been confirmed in a commercial flock of turkeys in the south Minnesota does not pose a risk to the public and there is no food safety problem for consumers.

The State Animal Health Council said routine testing found low pathogenic bird flu on a farm in Kandiyohi County. The council has quarantined the flock and plans to test these birds and other flocks in the area for signs of the disease.

The virus is different from the one that caused the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu in the Midwest in 2015, health officials said.

“Pre-market bird testing is standard protocol for our Minnesota poultry flocks, as it verifies that healthy birds are sent to market, and if disease is detected, we can maintain the flock and work quickly with producers to fight the disease, ”says state veterinarian Dr. Beth Thompson.

The board of directors is working with federal, state and industry partners on new measures to fight the virus.

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