More cases of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza (HPAI) have been confirmed this week by USDA.

An additional eight commercial turkey flocks in Minnesota were confirmed on Monday bringing to 22 the total number of confirmed cases in Minnesota. These flocks are within the Mississippi flyway where this strain of avian influenza has previously been identified. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.

In the past week, cases of the disease were found in three more states – Iowa, Wisconsin, and North Dakota – bringing the total number of states with confirmed cases to 12.