Minnesota Extends Ban on Poultry Exhibitions
St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - The ongoing avian flu outbreak affecting Minnesota and other states has prompted an extension of a statewide moratorium on poultry exhibitions and other poultry events.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health imposed a temporary statewide ban on the events at the beginning of this month. When it was issued, the moratorium was expected to expire by May 1, but it is now been extended until June 1. It covers poultry swaps, fairs, exhibitions, and other events "where live poultry and susceptible birds are brought together and then disperse."
“We appreciate the patience of flock owners as we extend this pause on poultry events to continue evaluating the risk HPAI poses to their birds while at home or on the road at a fair or other event,” said Board of Animal Health Assistant Director, Dr. Linda Glaser. “We have a close eye on the upcoming county fair season and other community events, and we hope this extension suppresses the virus to allow those things to proceed safely as planned in June.”
The Board of Animal Health stresses that this temporary ban only applies to events where birds congregate and does not apply to poultry products. The news release on the extension of the ban also notes that the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu poses a high risk to poultry but a low risk to the public.
As of the last report, there had been more than 2.7 million confirmed cases of the H5N1 virus among 60 commercial poultry flocks and backyard poultry operations in nearly 20 counties throughout Minnesota. In this region, it has been confirmed in flocks located in Mower, Dodge, and Waseca Counties.