Bird flu confirmed in second North Dakota poultry flock

UNDATED (AP) The presence of bird flu has been confirmed in a second poultry flock in North Dakota.

The state Agriculture Department says the H5 virus is in a commercial flock in LaMoure County that includes about 69,000 turkeys and about 2,000 chickens. The operation has been quarantined and the flock will be destroyed.

The state is still waiting on confirmation of whether the virus is the H5N2 strain that has cost Midwestern chicken and turkey producers more than 7 million birds since early March. But the Agriculture Department says whatever strain it is, it is highly contagious.

The H5N2 virus was confirmed at a Dickey County poultry farm earlier this month. The 40,000 turkeys are being destroyed.