National Guard Troops Mobilized In Fight Against Avian Flu
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – National Guard soldiers have been called to help euthanize birds as part of the effort to stem the spread of avian flu in Minnesota.
State officials announced Sunday that 30 soldiers and 15 military trucks are being used in a mission to transport the large amounts of water needed to create the foam used to kill birds en masse.
The soldiers in the mission will be from the Willmar-based 682 Engineer Battalion and the Brooklyn Park-based 134th Brigade Support Battalion. They're slated to set out on Monday and work through Wednesday.
So far, 46 flocks in 16 Minnesota counties have been infected by the deadly H5N2 strain.
Last week, Gov. Mark Dayton declared a state of emergency over the outbreak. Doing so allowed the activation of emergency operation plans, including the mobilization of National Guard personnel.
