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Goat from western Minnesota tests positive for Avian Flu
The state board of animal health says it marks the first U.S. case where a cow, sheep, goat or relative has tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
STEVENS COUNTY, Minnesota — Editor’s Note: This video was originally published Oct. 27, 2023.
A young goat in western Minnesota is now part of a groundbreaking case, considered the first domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats and related animals) to test positive for the avian flu.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH) announced the case Wednesday, sharing that the juvenile goat lives on a farm with a poultry flock that was already quarantined after testing positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). After the goat was confirmed with HPAI in February, MBAH quarantined all other species on the premises. The board is now working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to investigate how the virus was transmitted.
“This finding is significant because, while the spring migration is definitely a higher risk transmission period for poultry, it highlights the possibility of the virus infecting other animals on farms with multiple species,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs. “Thankfully, research to date has shown mammals appear to be dead-end hosts, which means they’re unlikely to spread HPAI further.”
The case came to light when the owner of the farm notified state animal officials of unusual deaths involving baby goats on the same property where a backyard poultry flock was put down due to an outbreak of HPAI. Investigators learned that the juvenile goats and the poultry flock shared the same living space, including a water source. A goat carcass was transported to the U of M Veterinary Diagnosis Lab, where it tested positive for the same strain of avian flu virus involved in a nationwide outbreak back in 2022.
State animal health officials say HPAI has been previously diagnosed in other mammals like skunks, dogs and cats. Animals with weakened or immature immune systems, like the goat kids in this case, are at higher risk of contracting disease.
Experts with MBAH say the risk of the public contracting the virus is extremely low and is limited to people in direct contact with infected animals. To date, no one in the United States has become ill following contact with mammals infected with HPAI.
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Police are investigating after three men were shot early on Saturday morning.
MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police are investigating after three men were shot in the Ventura Village neighborhood early Saturday morning.
According to Minneapolis police, officers were called to the area around East 21st Street and South 15th Avenue around 5 a.m. Saturday.
Officers found three men had been shot. One of the men died and the two others were taken to the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries.
Officials said the shooting happened at a small homeless encampment.
Police have not announced any arrests as of Saturday morning.
KARE 11 will update this story as more information is made available.
This Halloween the chocolate shop is getting very festive.
MARINE ON SAINT CROIX, Minn. — A small sweet shop in a Minnesota river town has won some BIG awards for its chocolates.
St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix has won national and international awards including Best of Show in this year’s America’s Division of the International Chocolate Awards.
Their chocolates are available at the St. Croix Chocolate Company kitchen or online.
This Halloween they are selling a Halloween Countdown Calendar that features 14 prize-winning recipes made into ghosts, bats, skulls and other spooky configurations. They also have a Boo Bag-handled tote that comes with their “best of” Halloween assortment.
Owner and Chocolatier, Robyn Dochterman, joined KARE 11 Saturday to share what St. Croix Chocolate Company has to offer.
MINNEAPOLIS — Making pasta at home is relatively simple, as long as you have the right tools.
October is National Pasta Month and Red Rabbit‘s Corporate Chef, Adam Lerner, joined KARE 11 Saturday to show us how to make homemade noodles in the confines of your own kitchen.
