Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has increasingly spread to mammals and infected hundreds of people, raising concerns that it may lead to human-to-human transmission and turn into a new pandemic.

The 114 commercial outbreaks in South Dakota have led to the death or intentional killing of more than 6 million turkeys, chickens and other birds.

The Stearns County detection is the first in a Minnesota dairy herd so far this year. The same 620-cow herd also tested positive last July. The first bird flu detection in Minnesota livestock involved a Benton County dairy herd last June.