MN DAIRY HERDS DECLARED FREE OF H5N1 VIRUS

The U.S Department of Agriculture is declaring Minnesota’s dairy herds unaffected by the H5N1 avian flu virus after four months of clean test results.  Disease surveillance began in February to prevent the spread to untouched dairy herds and poultry flocks.  One case was detected in March, but no others have followed.  The state will now reduce milk sample testing from monthly to every other month.  Officials say continued monitoring is key and federal restrictions on interstate animal movement remain in place.