In a significant development for Georgia’s poultry industry, the highly-virulent strain of bird flu has recently affected a commercial poultry producer in Elbert County, marking the first such occurrence in the state since the widespread outbreak in 2022. The Georgia Department of Agriculture made the announcement on Friday, confirming the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) approximately 100 miles northeast of Atlanta. In response, the department has suspended all events involving poultry, including exhibitions, shows, and sales.
Prior to this incident, the virus was only found in backyard flocks within Georgia, with cases involving 13 birds—both chickens and ducks—reported earlier this month in Clayton County, located south of Atlanta. Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper emphasized the seriousness of this situation, stating, “This is a serious threat to Georgia’s #1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state’s poultry industry.”
The poultry operation first reported signs indicative of bird flu on Wednesday, and confirmation of the virus was established by the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network by Thursday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory also verified the results the following day. At the time of detection, the site housed approximately 45,000 broiler breeders.
In light of the confirmed case, the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management team dispatched State Agricultural Response Teams to conduct necessary procedures aimed at depopulation, cleaning, disinfecting, and the disposal of affected birds. Furthermore, all commercial poultry facilities located within a 6.2-mile radius of the affected site have been placed under quarantine and will undergo a minimum of two weeks of monitoring and testing to ensure safety.
Mike Giles, president of the Georgia Poultry Federation, stated that the organization is working closely with both state and federal officials. There are existing testing measures that ensure the safety of chicken products available for consumer purchase. “That approach to protecting the safety of poultry products produced in Georgia will continue throughout this response and beyond,” he reassured.
A representative from the Georgia Department of Agriculture clarified that the specific identity of the affected site is withheld to prevent unauthorized access, which could lead to a broader spread of the virus and to safeguard the producer from any potential harassment.
The avian flu has been wreaking havoc globally over the past two years, affecting millions of both wild and domestic birds. Nationally, the virus has been identified in 84 commercial and backyard flocks in the past month alone, impacting around 10.7 million birds, as detailed in the latest reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, the virus has been confirmed on numerous dairy farms.
While human infections are uncommon and have predominantly been reported among farmworkers, there has been one fatal case: a Louisiana man over the age of 65 who was hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms linked to bird flu.
