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Avian flu hits farm with 1.1 million chickens; biggest yet in Minnesota

By Danielle Haynes

DULUTH, Minn., May 4 (UPI) -- Avian flu has been detected at a chicken farm in Nicollet County in Minnesota that has 1.1 million birds, making it the largest flock in the state to report the disease.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health on Monday said the outbreak was the first for the county. A Renville County farm with 12,900 turkeys also reported its first example of H5N2 avian influenza, which is considered highly pathogenic in birds.

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Since the outbreak first started, 80 farms have been affected by the flu and birds on 71 of those farms have been euthanized. A total of 5.3 million chickens and turkeys have died or are scheduled to be euthanized because of the disease.

Minnesota declared a state of emergency in April in order to establish a formal procedure for federal and state officials to battle the flu outbreak and make resources available.

Gov. Mark Dayton on Monday said he'd like to make low-interest loans available to poultry farmers whose flocks have been affected by the flu, the Duluth News Tribune reported.

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"I think it is something we should do and I strongly support it," he said.

Dayton suggested loan amounts up to $100,000, though others are pushing for loans up to $200,000.

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