Avian flu makes reappearance in Minnesota at Redwood County turkey farm

St. Paul, MN: On Sept. 16, 2025, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was confirmed in a Redwood County commercial turkey flock. This is the first detection of HPAI in poultry since April 23, 2025, and animal health officials and industry have been working hard over the summer to eliminate the virus from quarantined sites so the state could officially declare freedom of the disease on Aug. 25, 2025. This detection resets Minnesota’s response teams and will draw responders back into the fight against avian influenza this fall.

The Redwood County flock, around 20,000 turkey toms, showed signs of increased mortality. Samples taken Sept. 14, 2025, and submitted to the Minnesota Poultry Testing Laboratory on Sept. 15 tested PCR positive for influenza A and the H5 strain. Molecular testing (PCR) is a diagnostic tool that looks for the presence of the virus in the bird. Positive influenza results indicate the bird is infected and shedding virus. The USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa confirmed the results and will run further tests on the sample to classify the virus type.

"Though we remain hopeful that we can eliminate HPAI in Minnesota's poultry stock, this case was not wholly unexpected as we move into the migration season for wild waterfowl," said Dr. Shauna Voss, Assistant Director of the Board. "Vigilance and robust biosecurity remain the best methods for flock owners to protect poultry from avian influenza."

Biosecurity is paramount to stopping the spread of this and other viruses and disease. Owners of large and small flocks should review their biosecurity measures to maintain the health of their birds. Information about biosecurity can be found on the Board’s biosecurity page (https://www.bah.state.mn.us/biosecurity/).

Poultry is safe to eat, and proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 ˚F is always advised.

Poultry producers and backyard flock owners should contact their veterinarian immediately if they see any signs or symptoms 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.

If you are a veterinarian and receive reports of clinical signs of avian influenza, call the Minnesota Avian Influenza Hotline at 833-454-0156. If it is after hours or on the weekend, call the Minnesota Duty Officer at 1-800-422-0798. Anyone can report sick birds on the Board's online Sick Bird Report Form (https://www.bah.state.mn.us/report-sick-birds).

The Board is notified of any preliminary detections of the virus in samples and responds by sending a case manager to the affected farm to issue a quarantine and guide the producer through the entire response process. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) also monitors the health of people who have direct contact with infected animals or their environment and provides public health recommendations to help reduce the risk for infection. MDH also provides testing, antivirals, and personal protective equipment (PPE) as needed. The risk to the public from this virus remains low currently. People who work with or have direct contact with infected animals or their environment are at most risk for getting sick.

Detections of HPAI in Minnesota are posted on the Board’s HPAI page https://www.mn.gov/bah/hpai. The Board is the official source of information for Minnesota’s response to HPAI.