Largest Minnesota farm hit by bird flu to lay off 39 workers

Rembrandt Foods, one of the nation's largest egg suppliers, plans to lay off 39 employees at its Renville County egg-laying operation because of an avian flu outbreak.

Lab tests recently confirmed the virus at the chicken farm. Workers are killing about 2 million birds at the facility to prevent the disease from spreading.

In a statement, the Iowa-based company said it will begin laying off employees in about 10 days. Rembrandt officials say the company expects to restart the operation, but has not determined when.

When the H5N2 virus infects a farm, it can take three months or more before new poultry can be housed in the barns.

Minnesota has lost about 8 million chickens and turkeys to the disease, but the spread of the disease appears to be slowing. No new cases have been reported in the last six days.