HAWLEY, MINN. (KFGO-AM) - Amon Baer is anxiously awaiting results of testing at a USDA Lab in Iowa which could confirm a probable case of avian flu in chickens at his family run operation near Hawley. The findings could be available Wednesday.
Baer first noticed some signs of illness in the 300,000 bird flock Monday. The operaton is a large scale commercial egg production facility. Baer says he's unable to ship any eggs because of the possibility the flock may be infected.
If confirmed, it would be at least the third avian flu outbreak in Northwestern Minnesota. It's been detected in poultry flocks in Roseau and Ottertail Counties. Nearly 30 farms statewide have had confirmed outbreaks. Several million birds, mostly turkey's, have either died from the flu virus or had to be killed to prevent it from spreading. So far, one flock in North Dakota, in Dickey County, has been hit by the disease. Iowa, Wisconsin and South Dakota are also reporting outbreaks of the highly contagious virus.