ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO/WCCO) – State leaders are giving an update on avian influenza (H5N1) in Minnesota.
Experts say while numbers are low in Minnesota right now, they’re preparing for the migratory bird season when the virus will pick back up again over the next several months.
“The good news on this is, through the work of the experts in the state, collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture and the incredible support we’ve received from the legislature, able to have the most robust and I would say effective monitoring and ability to contain of probably any of the states,” Walz said Wednesday.
Walz added that Minnesota’s turkey and dairy farmers are continuing to struggle. The most recent proposed budget from Walz includes $4 million to combat the avian flu statewide.
Meanwhile, the University of Minnesota announced it has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fight H5N1.
“We’ve watched what’s happened in California for example, where they’ve had over 700 of their 900-plus dairy farms (that) have gotten H5N1 in their dairy herds,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson. “Minnesota has over 1,600 dairy farms and so again, we want to be in that situation where we’re being very close and very much on top of this as we look at that.”
Earlier this week, after a statewide test of dairy milk by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, they confirmed a strain of bird flu in a dairy herd in Stearns County.
The Board of Animal Health has quarantined the herd until they test negative. The organization is stressing that there is no concern for the safety of the public milk supply.
Comments