On 11 April, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a third commercial turkey flock in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota.

This is the 14th confirmation in a commercial flock in Minnesota. The flock of 38,000 turkeys is located within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified.

On the same day, APHIS confirmed the presence of the same highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Dickey County, North Dakota. This is the first outbreak of avian flu in the state.

The flock of 60,000 turkeys is located within the Central flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified.

Samples from the turkey flocks, both of which experienced increased mortality, were tested at the respective state's Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the findings.

APHIS is working closely with the states' animal health authorities on a joint incident response.

State officials have quarantined the premises and birds on the properties will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.