I routinely get these reports from DNR. This seems too important not to share. It makes me wonder about house cats allowed to wander and kill birds. They too could contract this avian flu. Hopefully, no humans get it. Kathryn Rudd, Eagan
Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > From: MN Department of Natural Resources <dnr.upda...@updates.mndnr.gov> > Date: May 11, 2022 at 4:29:42 PM CDT > To: katda...@hotmail.com > Subject: DNR news release > Reply-To: dnr.upda...@updates.mndnr.gov > > > May 11, 2022 > > DNR News Release > For Immediate Release: > May 11, 2022 > For more information: > Contact the DNR Information Center > by email or call 888-646-6367. > Wild fox in Minnesota tests positive for > highly pathogenic avian influenza > A wild fox from Anoka County has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian > influenza. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a wild mammal in > Minnesota. > > The University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory alerted the > Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, which is responsible for > monitoring the health of the state’s wildlife. The National Veterinary > Services Laboratory later confirmed the positive test earlier this week. > > Last week, two red fox kits in Ontario, Canada tested positive for HPAI. > Those kits were the first reported cases of the current HPAI outbreak in a > wild mammal in North America. The Minnesota fox also was a kit. > > The DNR routinely responds to reports of sick wildlife and conducts testing > for many wildlife diseases, including canine distemper and rabies in foxes. > In light of these most recent findings of HPAI in fox kits, the DNR will add > avian influenza to the routine screening process when foxes exhibiting > neurological symptoms are submitted to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic > Laboratory. > > This year’s HPAI strain is more aggressive and has caused more deaths amongst > domestic poultry and wild birds than the previous strain in 2015. > > “Testing in Minnesota has confirmed HPAI in nearly 200 wild birds, including > 19 species of birds, primarily waterfowl and raptors,” said Michelle > Carstensen, the DNR’s wildlife health program supervisor. > > The DNR is coordinating bird sampling efforts with U.S. Department of > Agriculture Wildlife Services, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Raptor > Center, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, Wild and Free, and > other wildlife rehabilitation centers. The DNR and its partners are still > learning about this new HPAI strain and its effects on wildlife. The DNR’s > monitoring efforts are designed to learn where the strain is spreading and > what species might be affected. > > “Wild animals can sometimes transmit diseases to humans, and while we > typically think of rabies or other well-known diseases as the primary > concerns, this shows that there are other risks to keep in mind as well,” > said Dr. Joni Scheftel, state public health veterinarian with the Minnesota > Department of Health. “The best advice we have for Minnesotans is to avoid > contact with wildlife that appear sick or injured and contact your healthcare > provider if you are bitten or have other close contact with wildlife.” > > Minnesotans who find sick or dead waterfowl and raptors — which are the > wildlife most affected by HPAI — should contact the DNR to file a report. > Learn more about what kind of reports the DNR needs for monitoring purposes, > its response to the avian influenza outbreak, and contact information on the > DNR website (mndnr.gov/AI). > > ### > > > Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | mndnr.gov > Email us: info....@state.mn.us | Call 651-296-6157 or 888-646-6367 > > SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: > Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe | Help | Sign-up for other Minnesota > DNR notifications > This email was sent to katda...@hotmail.com using GovDelivery Communications > Cloud ---- General information and guidelines for posting: https://moumn.org/listservice.html Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html During the pandemic, the MOU encourages you to stay safe, practice social distancing, and continue to bird responsibly.
