2023 Highlights
- Despite having a record number of animal tularemia cases reported in 2023, there were no human tularemia cases reported in Minnesota.
- Twelve rabid animals were reported in October, the highest monthly total for the year and a 237% increase compared to the average number of rabid animals reported in October from 2019 to 2022.
- In 2023, 195 poultry workers, responders, and backyard flock owners were interviewed regarding their possible exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A H5N1, of which 151 individuals were monitored for symptoms of H5N1
- In 2023, one blastomycosis outbreak was identified in 2023. Five people, 10 dogs and 1 cat from the same town were infected.
Prevention and control of human zoonotic infections is often supplemented by surveillance in animals. Animal rabies and tularemia surveillance provides insights into the risk of these diseases in people. In 2023, 48 (2.0%) of 2,348 animals tested were positive for rabies, including 36 bats, and 6 skunks. A record number of 20 animal tularemia cases were reported while no human cases were identified.
The first animal anthrax outbreak in a decade occurred in 2023. MDH staff developed an occupational exposure risk assessment and provided post-exposure prophylaxis recommendations to exposed livestock producers and veterinarians to prevent human illness. The resources developed for this response have been distributed to other states to aid in their future investigations of occupational exposures to animal anthrax outbreaks.
In 2023, 34 poultry farms and 6 backyard flocks tested positive for HPAI A H5N1. Across these 40 premises, 384 individuals, including poultry workers, state and federal animal health responders, and backyard flock owners were potentially exposed to HPAI A H5N1. MDH staff interviewed 195 individuals and monitored 151 for illness for 10 to 60 days, depending on their response role. No human cases of HPAI H5N1 were detected.
Fungal disease reports continued to increase from previous years. In 2023, 99 blastomycosis cases were reported, continuing a trend of high case counts beginning in 2019. A total of 218 cases of histoplasmosis reported, including 56 confirmed cases and 162 probable cases. One blastomycosis outbreak was identified including five people, 10 dogs and 1 cat from the same town.