An emergency team with the United States Department of Agriculture is set to help Minnesota respond to confirmed cases of avian flu. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirmed over the weekend that H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza had been found in poultry flocks in Mower, Meeker, and Stearns counties. The virus affected commercial turkey flocks of 289-thousand animals in Meeker County and 24-thousand in Stearns. The virus was detected in a backyard “mixed species” flock of 17 birds in Mower County. Governor Walz’s office says the USDA team will help the state’s Agricultural Incident Management team to contain infected flocks, respond to infected sites, conduct disease surveillance, and coordinate logistics and finances between the state and federal agencies.
Feds To Help With Minnesota Avian Flu Response
About the Author: Ashley Hanley
Ashley (Goettl) Hanley is a North Mankato native and Mankato West graduate who made the switch from TV journalism to radio.
After five years at KEYC News 12, Ashley is thrilled to be working for KTOE News. Ashley and her husband John, and son John, enjoy spending time in the community. You can also find Ashley coaching and playing softball and supporting her brother on the MSU football team and her sister with Scarlet athletics.
Even though she went to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Ashley kept her Minnesota roots and is a big Twins and Vikings fan!