Four Minnesota farms have been struck by the H5N2 Avian Flu virus, affecting more than a million birds.

Another farm in South Dakota has also been struck by the highly pathogenic bird flu strain, bringing the total number of birds affected by the outbreak to more than 1.7 million, according to U.S. officials.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said Minnesota's Roseau and Otter Tail counties were being affected for the first time. The number of affected flock surged to 21,000 turkeys in Otter Tail County while 26,000 turkeys were affected in Roseau County.

In addition, Stearns County has reported the virus spreading to 67,000 turkeys and that it was was the sixth time H5N2 struck their county. Kandiyohi County, on the other hand, reported a fifth outbreak of the pathogenic virus, which affected about 152,000 turkeys.

According to data from the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, Kandiyohi and Stearns were the top producers of turkey in the state while Tail ranked fifth. Minnesota is the leading turkey producer in the United States.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported that a total of 26 farms in 14 counties have been affected by the outbreak that began in early March and has now affected 1,718,500 turkeys.

Meanwhile, the pathogenic virus seemed to have flown all the way to South Dakota. H5N2 has been confirmed last week to have affected a farm having 66,600 turkeys in Roberts County. The farm is found in the northeast corner of the state, connecting both North Dakota and Minnesota.

South Dakota also confirmed the outbreak to have reached five counties around the state’s eastern half. The outbreaks took place this month and have affected the farms situated along the Central U.S. flyway.

Another report from the APHIS also said that Barron County in Wisconsin has already been struck with the outbreak where 126,700 turkeys were affected in the state.

The APHIS also said the authorities have been conducting outbreak responses. This included quarantining farms, de-populating flock and making sure that the affected poultry do not reach the market.

TagsH5N2, avian flu virus, minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Roberts County, North Dakota, Kandiyohi, Stearns, Turkey Growers Association, Minnesota Board of Animal Health, Barron County, US Department of Agriculture Animal, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Roseau, Otter Tail