USDA confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 cases in eight more commercial turkey flocks in six Minnesota Counties: Kandiyohi, La Sueur, Meeker, Stearns ,

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• USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Cases in Six Minnesota Counties; CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low

USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic H5N2 Cases in Six Minnesota Counties

Published: Apr 14, 2015

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CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low​

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2015 -- The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in an additional eight commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota. There are 22 total confirmed cases in Minnesota. These flocks are within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.

The affected flocks are in:

• Kandiyohi County – 30,000 turkeys (4th detection in the county)
• La Sueur County – 21,500 turkeys (1st detection in the county)
• Meeker County – 25,000 turkeys (2nd detection in the county)
• Meeker County – 20,000 turkeys (3rd detection in the county)
• Stearns County – 76,000 turkeys (5th detection in the county)
• Swift County – 160,000 turkeys (1st detection in the county)
• Swift County – 154,000 turkeys (2nd detection in the county)
• Redwood County – 56,000 turkeys (1st detection in the county)

Samples from the turkey flocks were tested at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings. NVSL is the only internationally recognized AI reference laboratory in the United States. APHIS is working closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the premises and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

The United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world. As part of the existing USDA avian influenza response plans, Federal and State partners as well as industry are responding quickly and decisively to these outbreaks by following these five basic steps: 1) Quarantine – restricting movement of poultry and poultry-moving equipment into and out of the control area; 2) Eradicate – humanely euthanizing the affected flock(s); 3) Monitor region – testing wild and domestic birds in a broad area around the quarantine area; 4) Disinfect – kills the virus in the affected flock locations; and 5) Test – confirming that the poultry farm is AI virus-free. USDA also is working with its partners to actively look and test for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets and in migratory wild bird populations.

The Minnesota Department of Health is working directly with poultry workers at the affected facility to ensure that they are taking the proper precautions. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F kills bacteria and viruses.
USDA will include the confirmation information in routine updates to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and will notify international trading partners of this finding as appropriate. OIE trade guidelines call on countries to base trade restrictions on sound science and, whenever possible, limit restrictions to those animals and animal products within a defined region that pose a risk of spreading disease of concern.

These virus strains can travel in wild birds without them appearing sick. People should avoid contact with sick/dead poultry or wildlife. If contact occurs, wash your hands with soap and water and change clothing before having any contact with healthy domestic poultry and birds.

All bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, should continue to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to State/Federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at 1-866-536-7593. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.
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Published April 15, 2015, 08:41 AM

Minnesota officials: Bird flu threat could last years
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By: Jonathan Knutson, Forum News Service

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota officials say they?re doing everything possible to stop the spread of bird flu and stress that the disease poses no threat to food safety or the general public as eight more cases were reported this week.

The officials also said the disease, for which no vaccine currently is available, likely will remain a concern for the next three to five years.
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The news conference came after Tuesday?s announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in eight more commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota, the nation?s leading turkey producer. Twenty-two such cases have now been confirmed in the state with dozens throughout the upper Midwest, including one in North Dakota and four in South Dakota

Minnesota has about 600 turkey farms, and more cases likely will be found, said Bill Hartmann, state veterinarian. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which he leads, has enlisted help from the state ag department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. More than 130 experts now are working against the disease and to figure out why it?s spreading.
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No human infections have been detected in Minnesota or elsewhere in the U.S., said Ed Ehlinger, state health commissioner.
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So far, his department has interviewed 60 workers at infected flocks and encouraged 46 of them to take precautionary anti-viral drugs. No infections in any of the workers have been found, Ehlinger said.
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http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/23395/

 

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Latest bird flu outbreak brings total Minnesota turkeys affected to 1.4 million

Article by: MIKE HUGHLETT , Star Tribune Updated: April 15, 2015 - 10:21 AM

Minnesota is now at the center of a national outbreak.

Highly lethal bird flu is taking on epidemic proportions, hitting eight more Minnesota turkey farms and bringing the number of birds affected in the state to more than 1.4 million.

The newly afflicted farms were raising more than 500,000 turkeys, making Tuesday?s announcement by regulators the largest one-day death toll since highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu struck the state in early March. Birds on a farm that don?t die from the sickness are killed as a ?precaution.
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?It?s clearly a major epidemic,? said Michael Osterholm, a prominent infectious diseases expert at the University of Minnesota. A highly pathogenic bird flu outbreak this large is ?unprecedented? in the United States, he said.
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For farms hit by the flu, the financial and emotional toll is ?devastating,? Olson said. The birds killed in the first 14 outbreaks cost farmers nearly $16 million, the growers association said. That doesn?t account for other lost revenue: Barns hit by the flu can be out of commission for months.
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Seven of the eight afflicted Minnesota farms announced Tuesday are suppliers to Hormel, the nation?s second largest turkey processor. In total, 14 of the 22 Minnesota farms hit so far by the highly lethal flu are Hormel suppliers.
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Meanwhile, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is in the midst of taking 3,000 wild waterfowl feces samples throughout the state, trying to find the virus in nature. With about 350 samples so far, they haven?t had a positive test yet.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/299732091.html?page=all&prepage=1&c=y#continue