News Releases

St. Paul, MN: On May 6, 2025, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (the Board) received notification of an Olmsted County horse exhibiting neurological signs and subsequently tested positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). EHV-1 is highly infectious between horses and can develop into a neurological condition known as Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). 

The 20-year-old mare became

St. Paul, MN: On Friday, April 25, 2025, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (Board) received notification of a Washington County horse exhibiting neurologic signs and testing positive for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1). EHV-1 is highly infectious between horses and can develop into a debilitating neurological disease known as Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM). Because the horse, a

H5N1 influenza has been confirmed in a Stearns County dairy herd from samples collected as part of Minnesota’s milk surveillance plan. The USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the results March 21, and the Board of Animal Health has quarantined the herd until they meet testing requirements indicating it’s no longer infected. There is no concern for the safety of the public

St. Paul, MN: The Minnesota Board of Animal will implement a new United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) official identification rule on electronic identification (EID) tags on Nov. 5, 2024. USDA issued the new guideline April 26, 2024.

The rule specifies ear tags for all sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older, all

St. Paul, MN: An unvaccinated 2-year-old Belgian colt in Todd County was reported positive for West Nile virus (WNV) August 30 and marks the first confirmed equine case in Minnesota this year.

The horse became unable to rise in the morning of August 26, and died that afternoon. The owner reported three horses on a neighboring farm all died with similar clinical signs a few days prior to the colt

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announces new testing requirements for lactating dairy cows effective Tuesday, June 18. All lactating (currently producing milk) dairy cows must have both a negative H5N1 test result and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) to attend any exhibition in Minnesota. The requirements are effective until December 31, 2024.

“While H5N1 influenza in dairy cases

H5N1 influenza, the same virus that causes HPAI in poultry, has been confirmed in a Benton County dairy herd. Over the weekend the producer noticed clinical signs in only a handful of cows, the next day more than 40 cows had signs of fever. Samples collected from sick cows in the herd on Monday were sent to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory where the virus was detected

Saint Paul, Minn - A Stevens County goat kid (juvenile goat) residing on a farm with a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) positive poultry flock tested positive for the same virus. This is the first U.S. detection of HPAI in a domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives). All poultry on the property were already quarantined from the February HPAI detection. Following the

Saint Paul, Minn - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is launching new spring biosecurity educational materials for both would-be bird buyers and experienced poultry owners on how the simple steps and routines of biosecurity can greatly reduce disease risks. People may raise different types of birds for all kinds of different reasons, and the one thing they should all have in common is basic

Saint Paul, Minn - The Board of Animal Health is loosening its guidance around dog parks and other dog gatherings as canine influenza appears to be slowing in the state. The Board has confirmed 106 cases of canine influenza across 10 counties since the start of the outbreak in April. Case counts slowed through July and only one case has been reported since the middle of July.

“Be smart and be safe

Saint Paul, Minn - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health would like to remind livestock and pet owners of recent changes to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules regarding the use of antibiotics and animals.

As of June 11, 2023, livestock and pet owners must obtain a veterinarian’s prescription to purchase certain animal medications, including antibiotics. Additionally, other guidance has

Saint Paul, Minn - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed today in a commercial turkey flock of 140,000 birds in Meeker County. Samples were confirmed positive by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. The site is quarantined, and the birds on the premises were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.

Poul

Saint Paul, Minn - The six-member Minnesota Board of Animal Health has named Dr. Brian Hoefs as its new executive director and state veterinarian. The Board selected Dr. Hoefs to succeed Dr. Marion Garcia, who served the agency until April of this year. Dr. Hoefs has been serving in the role as interim since April.

Dr. Hoefs graduated from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls with an

Saint Paul, Minn - The Board of Animal Health responded to two horses with West Nile virus in Kandiyohi County this week. One horse, a one-year-old quarter horse colt was unvaccinated and died from complications related to the illness. The other horse is a 21-year-old mare who recently received a West Nile virus booster dose prior to its infection and is recovering. The detections stem from

Saint Paul, Minn - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirms the state’s first anthrax case in animals in more than a decade in Kittson County, affecting multiple cattle and a horse, and has quarantined the affected property. The Board recommends producers keep their livestock up to date on anthrax vaccinations, especially in northwest Minnesota.

“One of the reasons we don’t see a lot of

Saint Paul, Minn - The Board of Animal Health announced today that Dr. Marion Garcia will no longer serve as Executive Director and State Veterinarian for the Board, effective immediately. The members appreciate Dr. Garcia’s service protecting the health and welfare of Minnesota’s livestock and companion animals.

The Board will initiate a search for qualified candidates immediately. Dr. Brian Hoefs

Saint Paul, Minn - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is releasing new canine influenza guidance for dog owners, dog care facilities, and veterinarians as it continues to track more confirmed and suspected cases of this contagious canine disease. Four more cases of canine influenza have been confirmed outside of the original outbreak the Board announced on April 6. There are also strong

Saint Paul, Minn - The Minnesota Board of Animal Health officially quarantined an organization operating animal shelters in Hennepin, Anoka and Washington Counties this afternoon to stop the potential spread of canine influenza, a highly infectious disease in dogs. The Board was informed of the suspected cases this morning when the organization reported nearly 200 sick dogs at its facilities. The

Saint Paul, Minn - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed today in a backyard flock in Le Sueur County. Samples were confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. The site is quarantined, and the birds on the premises were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease.

Poultry is safe to eat, and proper handling

Saint Paul, Minn - A Winona County deer farm went through a mandatory herd depopulation in October, and no Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was detected in any of the 120 white-tailed deer tested. The Winona County farm had been quarantined since October 2020 because of its connection to other Minnesota CWD positive farms. In August 2022, CWD was confirmed in a 4-year-old doe in the herd (/news