On Mar. 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two flocks in Minnesota – a commercial turkey flock in Meeker County and a backyard mixed species flock (non-poultry) in Mower County.

Federal and State partners worked jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the nearby area, following existing avian influenza response plans. During a HPAI event in Minnesota, a response zone was created around the infected premises in order to control movement and establish an area for testing and surveillance protocols to be carried out.