The government confirmed “high path” bird flu at three South Dakota turkey farms on Tuesday as the overall toll of this year’s outbreaks of the viral disease topped 13.3 million birds. Fourteen farms in five states lost a total of 481,344 turkeys to highly pathogenic avian influenza since early February.
The newest outbreaks were in Kingsbury, Hanson and Hutchinson counties in eastern South Dakota. Counting the March 12 outbreak in Charles Mix County, also in the eastern part of the state, a combined 144,233 turkeys have died from HPAI or culling of infected flocks in South Dakota.
So far, only a small part of U.S. turkey production has been affected by HPAI. Growers produced 214 million turkeys in 2021. Minnesota, the leading state, produced 40.5 million birds. Indiana has had six bird flu outbreaks involving 171,224 turkeys. Missouri had two outbreaks with a total of 62,785 turkeys, Kentuck one outbreak with 53,286 turkeys and Iowa one case with 48,816 turkeys.
Nebraska officials said bird flu was identified on a farm with 570,000 broiler chickens in Butler County, 75 miles west of Omaha, on Tuesday.
“Having a second farm in Nebraska confirmed to have HPAI is unfortunate but not completely unexpected,” said Steve Wellman, state agriculture director. Nebraska’s first outbreak was in a backyard flock in Merrick County, 50 miles west of Butler County, on March 15.
Chickens account for most of the losses to HPAI, including 10.1 million egg-laying hens.