Avian influenza confirmed at Crow Wing County poultry farm
Feb. 14—BRAINERD — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry from samples taken at a Crow Wing County farm.
According to a news release from Crow Wing County, the site was quarantined and the 120 birds on the premises were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.
The first Minnesota cases of avian flu were identified in March 2022. The last time there was a case in Crow Wing County was May of 2022, and there was a recent case detected in Wadena County in January of 2025.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health, which leads the state response to avian influenza, highlights the perseverance of the virus to continue infecting flocks. The board strongly encourages producers to focus on their biosecurity, which is a series of proactive steps to reduce the risk of disease affecting their birds.
Flock owners large and small should consistently utilize biosecurity to manage the health of their birds. The University of Minnesota Extension maintains biosecurity resources for commercial and backyard flocks. For more information, visit extension.umn.edu/poultry/poultry-biosecurity .
Poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they see any signs or symptoms of disease in their flock:
* Decrease in feed or water intake
* Swelling or purple discoloration of head, eyelids, comb, wattle and hocks
* Decrease in egg production
* Sudden, unexplained death
* Extreme depression
* Very quiet
* Difficulty breathing
Veterinarians who receive reports of clinical signs of avian influenza should call the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline at 1-833-454-0156 or submit a sick bird report online. If it is after hours or on the weekend, call the Minnesota duty officer at 1-800-422-0798.
Subsequent highly pathogenic avian influenza cases will be posted on the board's website at bah.state.mn.us/report-sick-birds .
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