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Petersen: biosecurity an important part of HPAI plan

Minnesota Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen says biosecurity is the most important part of the USDA’s 5-point plan to address Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.

“The farms that have had USDA’s Wildlife Services inspections have had little problems; it’s a good thing.”

Another part of the plan included vaccines. USDA says there’s no vaccines currently available to help address HPAI, but Petersen says he’s optimistic the agency will continue to support research for it.

“I do think at some point, if it’s endemic we’re going to need to be doing something.”

Petersen says, overall, the plan is good, but there’s a lot of emphasis on chickens and egg prices when the turkey industry has also been hit hard with HPAI. He says there’s also ongoing Influenza A in cattle.

“As we’re in this national milk testing strategy, Minnesota is in its third week of testing all dairy farms in the state. Luckily, knock on wood, we’ve had no positive cases.”

Petersen says they’d like more guidance from USDA on Influenza A.