ST. PAUL, Minn. – A 50th flock of commercial fowl was diagnosed with highly contagious and fatal avian flu and scheduled for immediate extermination, hopefully  to slow the spread, the state Board of Animal Health confirmed. The discovery pushed Minnesota’s commercial bird-kill total to near 3 million since late March. The latest infection, in Lyon County in southwest Minnesota, was a commercial turkey flock of 120,000 birds. The infected farm was the fifth largest contamination site so far, the state Board said. Wild birds migrating north brought the flu with them this spring and spread the flu among domestic fowl. Many, many millions of the wild birds, too many to count, have died. Avian flu is not transmissible among species. The human toll is financial. Avian flu can wipe out commercial fowl production. Minnesota has 700 farms producing 40 million birds a year – more than any other state.

Latest contaminations

May 1: Lyon County (Marshall county seat): 118,900 turkey for human consumption

May 1: Carver County (Chaska): 30 birds, backyard producer

April 30: Chisago County (Center City): 30, backyard

April 29: Morrison (Little Falls): 40, backyard

April 29: Chisago: 30, backyard

April 29: Chisago: 50, backyard

April 27: Stearns (St. Cloud): 10,000, turkey breeder hens

April 27: Carver County: 20, backyard

April 26: Swift County (Benson): 16, backyard

April 22: Rice County (Faribault): 90, backyard

April 21: Swift County: 127,400, turkey for human consumption

April 20: Stearns County: 14,590, turkey for human consumption

April 10: Yellow Medicine County (Granite Falls): 46,000, turkey for human consumption

Infections. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health shows the intensity of recent infections. Thelarger and more intense circles, the larger the infected flocks.