August 7, 2009
Minnesota quarantines turkey flock due to bird flu
A commercial turkey flock in central Minnesota has been quarantined after routine testing detected a strain of bird flu virus, according to the state Board of Animal Health on Wednesday (Aug 5).
The board's assistance director Dale Lauer said H7N9 strain found at the Meeker County farm was different from the more lethal strain that has wrecked havoc in Asia.
He said the virus strain did not pose a threat to the general public but could cause mild symptoms in poultry workers.
The quarantined flock had showed no signs of illness, but other flocks within three miles would also be quarantined for six weeks while they are repeatedly tested for the virus.
Minnesota is the country's top turkey producing state.
