Today’s latest official update reports 11 new outbreaks of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza, all in commercial flocks – four in Iowa in laying hens and seven in Minnesota turkeys. More than 4.36 million birds are affected in these new outbreaks, bringing the total so far to more than 15.4 million.
According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), 11 new outbreaks of high-pathogenic avian flu were confirmed on 28 April:
- Iowa, Sioux county – 3,660,000 commercial laying hens
- Iowa, O’Brien county – 240,000 commercial laying hens
- Iowa, O’Brien county – 98,000 commercial laying hens
- Iowa, Osceola county – 258,000 laying hens chickens
- Minnesota, Stearns county – 19,100 commercial turkeys
- Minnesota, Steele county – 82,900 commercial turkeys
- Minnesota, Swift county – commercial turkeys (number pending)
- Minnesota, Kandiyohi county – commercial turkeys (number pending)
- Minnesota, Kandiyohi county – 8,400 commercial turkeys
- Minnesota, Kandiyohi county – commercial turkeys (number pending)
- Minnesota, Kandiyohi county – commercial turkeys (number pending)
In each of these outbreaks, the cause has been confirmed as the H5N2 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of mixed Eurasian and American origin.All these outbreaks are in the area of the Mississippi flyway for migrating birds.
No birds from the affected flocks are viable for sale and will not enter the food chain. No human infections of H5N2 avian influenza have been detected to date.
