Bird Flu is on the rise in Minnesota, calling for the extermination of over 200,000 turkeys. A turkey farm in Stearns county with 24,000 turkeys has now found at least one testing positive. Two locations in Meeker county have been exposed as well. Owner, Jenni O Turkey say all precautions are in place to protect the health of their birds and the supply chain. Bird flu is highly contagious between birds, causing illness and death. This strain has affected wild birds such as waterfowl as well as impacting our local farms. Though rarely transmitted to humans from birds, it can be lethal when transmitted to humans.
Avian influenza or bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. The links below offer more information about bird flu.
