In the past two days, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the presence of H5N2 highly pathogenic avian influenza in additional 15 flocks in Minnesota and one flock in South Dakota.

On April 21, USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed HPAI H5N2 in the following counties and states:

* Cottonwood County, Minn., with 30,000 turkeys;

* Wadena County, Minn., with 301,000 turkeys;

* Kandiyohi County, Minn., with 61,000 turkeys, and

* Spink County, S.D. with 33,300 turkeys.

On April 22, USDA confirmed the following cases:

* Otter Tail County, Minn., with 34,500 turkeys;

* Redwood County, Minn., with 35,500 turkeys;

* Kandiyohi County, Minn., with 75,000 turkeys;

* Kandiyohi County, Minn., with 19,100 turkeys;

* Kandiyohi County, Minn., with 34,500 turkeys;

* Kandiyohi County, Minn., with 61,000 turkeys;

* Kandiyohi County, Minn., with pending number of turkeys;

* Stearns County, Minn., with 28,600 turkeys;

* Stearns County, Minn., with 72,500 turkeys;

* Stearns County, Minn., with pending number of turkeys;

* Meeker County, Minn., with 58,900 turkeys;

* Meeker County, Minn., with pending number of turkeys, and

* Meeker County, Minn., with 10,700 turkeys.

The affected premises have been quarantined and birds on the property will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

Additionally, USDA has revised the bird count on the Osceola County, Iowa, laying hen flock from 5.2 million chickens to 3.8 million chickens due to actual inventory on the farm at the time of the outbreak.