5 counties, 376K birds now affected by H5N1

By KSTP
Preston Keres / USDA / MGN

The bird flu that was first detected in Minnesota on Friday has now been found in five counties.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health’s data Tuesday showed birds in Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Meeker, Mower and Stearns counties are affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1. More than 376,000 birds were affected by the influenza, as of Tuesday, with all but the 17 birds in Mower County being on commercial turkey premises.

RELATED: Bird flu returns to Minnesota poultry farms, first confirmed cases reported in the state since 2015

H5N1 was first confirmed in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County, Indiana on Feb. 8. It was first found in Minnesota on March 25.

The virus hasn’t caused any human illness, officials say, and the public is at a low risk.

RELATED: USDA team coming to Minnesota to help contain bird flu

A federal emergency response team from the United States Department of Agriculture is expected to arrive in Minnesota on Wednesday to help state officials contain the virus.