Minnesota poultry banned by four dozen countries

• 

  Freeimages.com/Valber Cortez

  About 48 countries have banned Minnesota poultry after avian influenza was found in a commercial poultry flock in the state.

  From WATTAgNet:
  About four dozen countries have banned poultry from Minnesota after highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Pope County Minnesota. The Minnesota outbreak, which was confirmed on March 5, marks the third reported avian influenza outbreak in commercial poultry in 2015, but the first in the Mississippi flyway.
  The previous two avian influenza outbreaks in commercial flocks were reported in California.
  Among the countries banning Minnesota poultry are all European Union nations and nearly all of the countries in Central America, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
  Samples from the turkey breeder replacement flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the finding. APHIS is partnering closely with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health on a joint incident response. State officials quarantined the affected premises and the remaining birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
  APHIS has not released the identity of the farm where the outbreak was confirmed or any company that the holding may be affiliated with.