Minnesota ban on poultry events, exhibitions extended to July 1

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Board of Animal Well being has prolonged its statewide ban on poultry occasions and exhibitions till July 1, based on a Thursday information launch.

The ban, meant to cut back the chance of spreading H5N1 extremely pathongenic avian influenza, was first set in place in April, and has already been prolonged as soon as. It consists of all poultry swaps, festivals, exhibitions and different occasions the place dwell poultry and vulnerable birds are introduced collectively after which disperse.

“HPAI circumstances have been on the decline and at one level we had a number of days of no new detections in Minnesota,” mentioned Board of Animal Well being Interim State Veterinarian Dr. Linda Glaser within the launch. “Nevertheless, a small variety of latest HPAI detections in new counties is trigger for us to increase the ban. This ban primarily impacts yard flock house owners and is meant to guard their birds from a possible pathway for the virus to unfold at poultry occasions.”

Any detection of HPAI in a yard flock means the proprietor should cull the flock and in addition chorus from acquiring any new birds for 150 days afterward. BAH officers encourage yard house owners to implement biosecurity measures to preemptively shield their flocks.

The discharge notes that direct promoting of child poultry continues to be allowed by means of personal gross sales, shops, or through mail by Nationwide Poultry Enchancment Plan licensed sellers. The ban solely applies to occasions the place birds congregate and doesn’t apply to poultry merchandise. The present HPAI outbreak in Minnesota poses a excessive danger to poultry however low danger to the general public. There is no such thing as a meals security concern for customers.

For the newest info on HPAI in Minnesota, in addition to assets for poultry house owners, go to

www.mn.gov/bah/hpai

.