On Friday, officials said all the poultry shows have been canceled at the Minnesota State Fair and all county fairs across the state this year as authorities are trying to stop a deadly bird flu virus. Other states have already made or are also considering such kind of moves.

Dr. Beth Thompson, assistant director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, said the cancellations will prove helpful in preventing the spread of the disease ‘by not allowing the birds to be comingling’.

So far till Friday, 88 Minnesota turkey and chicken farms had been affected by confirmed or presumed outbreaks of the H5N2 avian influenza virus, costing the state's producers around 5.8 million birds.

The new cases are slowing down, and State Fair General Manager Jerry Hammer has told the reporters that it was ‘absolutely’ the right decision for one of the largest state fairs in the country.

Hammer said the fair is all about agriculture, and educating people about where their food comes from was their central mission, which they are hoping to do this year.

Hammer added, “Sadly the birds won't be here but the poultry barns still will have exhibits on poultry, on its impact on Minnesota's economy. ... We'll use this space very well to show people about the challenges of food production”.

Till now, over 33 million birds in 15 states have got affected by Bird flu. It has hit Minnesota and Iowa turkey and chicken flocks the hardest.

Keeping in mind the same, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have already blocked poultry shows at their state and county fairs.

The Ohio State Fair will also ban poultry from affected states. Poultry shows are still going on at state fairs in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa, all of which have seen the bird flu.