Bird flu could return this fall

Minnesota lost 9 million birds over summer

State and federal agriculture officials are expecting the bird flu to return this fall.

More than nine million birds were destroyed by the bird flu in Minnesota.

State Rep. Paul Anderson, who is the chair of the House Agriculture Policy Committee, says planning for the future began weeks ago. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will rewrite a response plan soon to expedite handling of suspected cases, deploy field staff more efficiently and be clearer about which entities will play what roles.

Anderson says he’s been told the bird flu will be around for the next 3-5 years.

Bird flu cases in Minnesota this year were found at 110 sites in 23 counties, but no new cases have been detected since early June.