Avian flu confirmed in Wright County flock of 940,000 egg-layers

Levi Jones, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·1 min read

Nov. 6—ST. PAUL — Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in Wright County. The disease was confirmed Nov. 3 in a commercial table egg-layer operation.

The flock of around 940,000 birds was quarantined as of Oct. 31 and a control zone has been set up by the

Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

With this outbreak, Minnesota is up to 1.3 million birds affected by the avian flu this fall.

While this is the first case in Minnesota confirmed so far in November, cases across the state through October have put

control zones across the state,

including in Wright, Meeker, Redwood and Kandiyohi counties, according to information from the Board of Animal Health. These zones also affect parts of Yellow Medicine, Stearns, Renville and McLeod counties.

Farmers in the affected areas are asked to review their biosecurity measures and be vigilant for signs of avian influenza. If symptoms are seen within a flock, farmers are asked to contact their veterinarian.

According to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, symptoms include:

* Decrease in feed or water intake

* Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and hocks

* Decrease in egg production

* Sudden unexplained death

* Extreme depression

* Very quiet

* Difficulty breathing