# 10,098
After 10 days without a new bird flu outbreak reported in Minnesota, hopes have been growing that the return of warmer summertime temperatures meant at least a temporary respite from this outbreak. Today, however, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health is reporting 6 new farms have tested positive for the H5 virus.
Update on Avian Influenza - May 26
ST PAUL —The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated and ready to assist for any needs relating to the state’s response to avian influenza. The Joint Information Center will continue to announce any additional cases or significant developments when they occur.
Additional HPAI cases in Minnesota
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health today announced six presumptive positive flocks. The following Minnesota counties are affected:
To date, animal health officials have completed the following response zone activities:
- Brown – 1st detection (46,800 commercial turkeys)
- Renville – 3rd and 4th detections (commercial turkeys, information on flock sizes coming soon)
- Kandiyohi – 34th, 35th and 36th detections (commercial turkeys, information on flock sizes coming soon)
Current Situation
- Appraisals have been approved for 90 of the affected premises.
- Birds on 87 of the affected farms have been euthanized.
- The carcass disposal process is complete on 23 of the affected farms. These farms are cleared for and/or working on cleaning and disinfecting.
o Like all other aspects of HPAI response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting of premises affected by the virus.
*After the facilities have been cleaned/disinfected, animal health officials take environmental samples of the facility to make sure the influenza virus is no longer present.
*The barns must then sit empty for a period of 21 days. This is referred to as ‘down time’.
*Once the 21-day down time period is up, the affected farm is released from quarantine.
Total number of affected farms – 94
Total number of counties – 22
Total number of birds affected in Minnesota – 8,036,732 (not including pending flock sizes)
All affected farms remain under quarantine.
(Continue . . . )
The USDA’s APHIS tally – which was last updated on the 21st and has some catching up to do – shows more than 40 million birds affected to date:
Meanwhile, the list of wild birds that have tested positive for one of the three HPAI H5 viruses has expanded to 72
