Bird flu outbreaks in Minnesota infect 383,400 turkeys since beginning of year

 

Photo and headline:  WATT Poultry, 1/19/2026\

Roy Graber reports:

The presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in three commercial meat turkey flocks in Minnesota.  

According to information from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) two of the flock infections occurred in Meeker County. On January 15 HPAI was confirmed in a flock of 77,300 turkeys, and on the following day, the presence of the virus was confirmed in a flock of 250,600 turkeys. 

Also on January 15, HPAI was confirmed in a Stearns County flock, with 46,500 birds affected. 

With these new cases, Minnesota has had four commercial flocks struck by HPAI so far in 2026. The other instance was confirmed on January 12 in a flock of 9,000 commercial turkey breeder hens, also in Meeker County.

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January 11-20, 2026

Philippines reports 10 case of bird flu in past 10 days.  (1/17)

New York tells resident don't touch those dead birds.  (1/17)

Bird flu outbreaks in Georgia and Minnesota.  (1/15)

Kansas is currently ground zero for bird flu.  (1/13)

Newcastle Disease, another highly contagious viral disease affecting birds, hit 4 flocks in Spain.  (1/12)

Multiple strains of bird flu has scientists worried.  (1/11)

January 1-10, 2026

Two cases of bird flu hit Sampson County North Carolina.  (1/10)

Bird flu infects flock of 380,000 commercial egg-laying hens in Kansas.  (1/9)

Biggest egg producer in United States remains wary of bird flu.  (1/8)

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Bird flu reported on Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts. (1/8)

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Bird flu hits two gamebird flocks in Kansas.  (1/7)

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Kerala India reports 11 cases of bird flu in December 2025.  (1/6)

Bird flu infects 144,600 commercial laying hens in Nebraska.  (1/3)

Bird flu puts a damper on goose hunting season in Arkansas.  (1/3)

32,800 ducks infected by bird flu in Lancaster County Pennsylvania.  (1/2)

Geese dying to bird flu in South Dakota.  (1/1)

Bird flu continues to wreak havoc in Indiana.  (1/1)

December 16-31, 2025

Bird flu outbreaks continue apace in Europe.  (12/31)

Maryland reports most recent biggest case of bird flu.  (12/31)

12 swans die of bird flu at Orlando's Lake Eola.  (12/30)

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Europe continues to deal with outbreaks of avian flu.  (12/24)

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Indiana boosts its 2025 avian flu tally to 66. (12/17)

2025 avian flu tally in Europe:  654 outbreaks in 23 countries.  (12/17)

Texas reports its first case of avian flu since April 2024.  (12/16)

December 1-15, 2025

Minnesota reports 22nd case of avian flu in 2025.  (12/15)

Avian flu detected in Wisconsin dairy herd.  (12/14)

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Indiana boosts its avian flu outbreak tally to 64.  (12/11)

Australia awaits its first case of avian flu.  (12/9)

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Japan and South Korea report outbreaks of avian flu.  (12/8)

Avian flu kills more than 70 vultures in Ohio.  (12/7)

Latest avian flu research from Iowa State University.  (12/6)

Michigan DNR sends out an avian flu advisory to waterfowl hunters.  (12/6)

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Edmunds County South Dakota reports two cases of avian flu in less than a week.  (12/1)

November 15-30, 2025

Avian flu detected in wild birds all over Michigan.  (11/30)

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52 poultry flocks in Indiana infected by avian flu so far in 2025.  (11/25)

Washington State reports 3 more cases of avian flu.  (11/24)

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South Dakota reports 17th case of avian flu in 2025.  (11/23)

North Carolina reports first case of avian flu since January.  (11/21)

Widespread outbreaks of avian flu in Europe.  (11/17)

Avian flu wipeout in LaGrange County Indiana.  (11/17)

Bird flu spreads while Trump fiddles  and Dept of Ag secretary  Brooke Rollins poses with chickens.  (11/16)

November 1-15, 2025

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Avian flu taking a toll in Germany.  (11/13)

Wild birds are spreading avian flu across the United States.  (11/13)

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Another Michigan turkey flock infected with avian flu.  (11/11)

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Two recent cases of avian flu in Ottawa County, Michigan.  (11/7)

Japan reports third confirmed outbreak of avian flu this season.  (11/6)

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October 2025

Avian flu hits duck breeder farm in California. (10/29)

139,000 chickens fall victim to avian flu in Georgia.  (10/28)

Avian flu kills elephant seals on Heard Island south of Australia.  (10/25)

Widespread avian flu infections of wild birds in the United States.  (10/24)

Minnesota boosts its 2025 avian flu tally to 20.  (10/23)

Yet another case of avian flu confirmed in Minnesota, bringing total to 19 so far in 2025.  (10/22)

Indiana reports more cases of avian flu.  (10/21)

Quebec reports 4th case of avian flu in 2025.  (10/17)

Three more Minnesota turkey flocks affected by avian flu, bringing 2025 tally to 18 .  (10/16)

Two cases of avian flu reported in Manitoba on consecutive days.  (10/14)

Multiple reports of avian flu including two flocks in Washington State affecting more than 2,200,000 hens.  (10/13)

Bird flu detected in goose at Gibson Park in Great Falls Montana.  (10/12)

Avian flu threat results in cancellation of WIsconsin poultry show.  (10/11)

Avian flu hits two more turkey flock in Minnesota.  (10/10)

Avian flu hits Michigan turkey flock.  (10/9)

Avian flu hits Iowa turkey flock.  (10/7) 

175,000,000 birds have fallen victim to avian flu in United States since 2022.  (10/6)

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Jefferson County Wisconsin reports second case of avian flu in less than a week.  (10/3)

September 2025

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Avian flu claims an historical first death:  Whooping crane.  (9/29)

Wisconsin reports first 2025 commercial case of avian flu in poultry flock without providing any specifics.  (9/29)

Utah in 4th year of avian flu outbreak. (9/27)

Minnesota reports 55,000 cases of avian flu in 3 turkey flocks.  (9/26)

Expect higher prices for your Thanksgiving turkey this year.  (9/26)

South Dakota continues to be hit hard by avian flu.  (9/21)

Minnesota reports avian flu in flock of tom turkeys.  (9/19)

Nebraska reports its first known case of avian flu in dairy herd.  (9/17)

Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports 4 cases of avian flu in Alberta but otherwise remains mum.  (9/17)

South Dakota reports additional cases of avian flu in turkey flocks.  (9/14)

Must be Kristi Noem's bad karma and her Corey Lewandowski hook-up:  South Dakota is ground zero for avian flu so far this fall.  (9/10)

Avian flu is not going away:  Texas records U.S. case #1079 since January 2024.  (9/9)

April-August 2025

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Public relations news:  Not a good year so far for chickens and eggs.  (6/13)

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