Avian Flu Outbreak Confirmed in Olmsted County

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - The latest bird flu outbreak has arrived in the Rochester area.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a backyard flock in Olmsted County. The agency has indicated the flock was quarantined on January 1 and the test results confirming the viral infection were received on Tuesday.

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It marks the first confirmed outbreak of the avian flu in Minnesota this year, although there were numerous outbreaks identified in commercial and the backyard flocks in 2024. That list includes a backyard flock in Houston County and a commercial turkey operation in Fillmore County that involved more than 28,000 birds.

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The largest HPAI outbreak confirmed by the state in recent months was in Meeker County in late November and involved more than 223,000 turkeys at a commercial facility. The largest outbreak reported in 2024 was also in Meeker County at a commercial egg production facility and involved nearly 1.4 million chickens.

There have also been recent reports in southern Minnesota of deaths of Canadian Geese and other wild birds attributed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. State health officials have cautioned anyone from approaching dead birds to avoid the risk of infection.

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