Iowa bird flu cases reach 26 million

DES MOINES — Cases of avian influenza climbed to 60 Tuesday in Iowa, with four operations believed infected with the virus, including another backyard flock.

The birds infected with H5N2 have nearly reached 26 million across 14 counties, mostly in northwest Iowa. Most of the cases have been at commercial chicken or turkey operations, but five backyard flocks have been infected.

Birds at the infected facilities are quarantined and destroyed. Commercial and backyard flocks within 6.2 miles are quarantined and tested.

In Minnesota, all poultry shows have been canceled, the Minnesota State Fair announced Friday, as the state continues to address the spread of avian flu. Since March 5, nearly 90 Minnesota farms have been hit by H5N2, which has cost the state's producers around 5.8 million birds.

And it's not just the Great Minnesota Get-Together — the board has ordered a cancellation of all bird exhibitions at county fairs, swap meets, exotic animal sales and petting zoos.

"Taking this step makes sense," said Dr. Beth Thompson, assistant director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, in a statement. "We need to do everything possible to get rid of this virus and preventing the commingling of birds from different farms is one way to do that."

This isn't the first time Fair officials have modified livestock shows. In April of 2014, the State Fair restricted regional horses from being displayed at the Minnesota Horse Expo due to an equine virus.

State and federal health officials have stressed that they consider the risk to people from the virus to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected and there is no food safety risk for consumers.

Contributing: KARE-TV, Minneapolis