The two outbreaks, which again occurred in the hardest hit states of Iowa and Minnesota, were:

• Minnesota, Blue Earth county - 19,400 commercial turkeys;
• Iowa, Calhoun county - 13,400 commercial turkeys.

The total number of bird flu detections across the US has now reached 207, and over 45 million birds have now either died from the disease or been destroyed to prevent its spread.

Iowa's total detections amount to 68, with 29,261,400 birds affected. Iowa continues to report more presumed cases, unconfirmed by the USDA's Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS).

The latest reports are the eighth outbreak in Sac county, affecting 40,000 turkeys, and the third outbreak in Hamilton county, affecting 19,600 turkeys.

Iowa's Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship also reported yesterday that "a large incinerator at Cherokee landfill is currently operational and processing approximately seven loads a day in the start-up phase."

The incinerator is being adjusted to increase capacity, and more trucks are being added to the disposal operation, to help deal with the waste disposal capacity problem resulting from the high volume of birds destroyed.

Minnesota has had 97 detections, affecting 8,394,450 birds. The state has also been reporting presumed outbreaks, in Renville county. Currently waste disposal is only complete on 52 of the affected farms, despite the fact that birds have been euthanised on all farms with APHIS-confirmed outbreaks.

Nebraska's Department of Agriculture has reported one more presumed outbreak, but a presumed outbreak revealed last week was not confirmed by further testing.

The state has said that in consultation with the USDA, they have decided that 21 days of negative tests would be needed before quarantine could be lifted at the farm, in Knox county.