MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. — The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently confirmed the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in the state of Minnesota during 2024.

The agency confirmed the outbreak on April 11 in Meeker County which affected 70,100 birds. In 2023 Meeker County saw four outbreaks in commercial turkey birds.

Earlier in the spring, the Minnesota Board of Health issued guidance for biosecurity measures to help all poultry owners in the state.

“Poultry owners might be used to us sounding the alarm on highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, this time of year and talking about how biosecurity can limit the threat of this disease,” said Shauna Voss, senior veterinarian for the Minnesota Board of Health. “This year we’re taking a different approach and instead of highlighting one disease, we’re highlighting one solution for many diseases, which is effective biosecurity.”

Along with the ongoing threat of HPAI in birds, officials across the country have been dealing with growing outbreaks of the virus in dairy cow herds. 

Since the outbreak began in 2022, APHIS numbers from April 12 show that 1,121 commercial and backyard flocks have been discovered with HPAI in 48 states. To date, the virus has affected 88.11 million birds.