By Rep. Paul Anderson
Test results last week confirmed the first-ever case of “highly pathogenic avian influenza” in a commercial poultry flock in Minnesota.
The announcement put in motion efforts to contain the outbreak of the deadly disease to one flock in Pope County. A quarantine went into effect within a six-mile radius of the reported outbreak, and veterinarians from the state were going to every residence in the quarantine area to check on other poultry that may have been infected. There are no other commercial flocks within the area, and it’s hoped that, with quick action, the outbreak can be contained. That’s been the case with the other confirmed outbreaks of the disease in the Pacific flyway region of the western United States.
This particular strain of the disease was first reported on the West Coast in December of 2014. The first commercial poultry detection occurred in a California turkey flock in January of this year. The disease is carried by wild birds and is spread by their migratory habits. The Minnesota outbreak is the furthest east in this country from the initially infected areas of California, Oregon, and Washington state.
Avian Influenza affects all species of birds, however waterfowl, while carriers of the disease, often show little to no signs of infection. It is spread easily through droppings or nasal discharge of an infected bird, which contaminates nearby dust and soil. People can carry the virus on their shoes, clothes, equipment, and vehicles. The risk of human infection is very low, and to date, the strains of the disease found in the United States have not been detected in humans. In addition, there is no evidence that people can acquire the disease by eating poultry products.
Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture Dave Frederickson, in last Thursday’s news conference, said that other states have contained the disease and “we’ll use the same techniques here in Minnesota.” He added that the risk to public health is very low, although the workers involved in the Pope County turkey operation will be monitored. The incubation period for the virus is 21 days.
Because the disease had earlier been confirmed in the western states, China has already stopped importing turkey from the United States. It was also announced over the weekend that approximately 40 countries will stop importing turkey produced in Minnesota. Our state is the top-producing turkey state in the country, so this import ban will affect our state’s economy. Turkey production in Minnesota is estimated to be worth about $750 million, in addition to providing nearly 4,000 jobs. Exports to other countries make up about 9 percent of our state’s overall production.
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Governor Dayton’s 50-foot buffer requirement, which had not been discussed much lately, is back in the spotlight with the announcement Friday that a bill containing the governor’s plan had been introduced at the Legislature. Republicans in the House will control the bill’s progress, and its future at this point is unclear. There are still many unanswered questions, although the plan currently calls for local SWCD’s to provide technical assistance to landowners in establishing buffer strips. The DNR would be in charge of enforcement.
We had been hearing rumors of the bill’s introduction, but I was still surprised when it happened—especially this late in the session. The first deadline for hearing policy bills is a week from this Friday, and one of its stops will be in my Agriculture Policy Committee.