Minnesota Reports Three New H5N1 Poultry Flocks, ~118,000 Birds

Minnesota confirmed HPAI at three more commercial poultry sites this month: a 55,701-bird meat flock in Big Stone County and, on Sept. 10, a 44,352-bird turkey flock in Becker County and an 18,000-bird breeder flock in Otter Tail County. State detections total 11 in 2026 versus 31 in each prior year; nationally 16 flocks (~400,000 birds) tested positive over a recent 30-day span as fall waterfowl

Why it matters: Tighten biosecurity now: Minnesota's back-to-back turkey/breeder losses during peak fall migration signal rising depopulation risk despite lower 2026 totals than prior years.

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