The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced that it will be lifting the ban placed on poultry exhibitions and other gatherings of birds beginning today. Birds will be permitted at fairs, swap meets, exotic sales, petting zoos and other events where birds are gathered or commingled.

The directive to prohibit birds from exhibition was made on May 15 in the midst of the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The ban was put into place to minimize spread of HPAI and protect the state’s domestic bird population. Lifting the poultry exhibition ban comes as a result of no new cases of HPAI in Minnesota since June 5.

During the spring 2015 outbreak, 108 farms spanning 23 counties were infected with HPAI in Minnesota. According to a press release, all infected farms have completed cleaning and disinfection of their facilities as of November 13, and 104 farms have been cleared to restock their barns with birds.

For additional information on Minnesota’s response to HPAI, visit www.mnairesponse.info.

For information on livestock exhibition requirements in Minnesota, visit www.bah.state.mn.us/exhibitions.