Georgia officials have confirmed the first case of the infection in the state bird flususpends all poultry shows, exhibitions, swaps, meetings and sales until further notice.
An Elbert County poultry producer noticed signs of bird flu in his flock on Wednesday, according to Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Samples were tested and certified by the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network and the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
In this picture you can see test tubes with the inscription “Bird flu” and eggs. (Reuters/Dado Ruvić/Reuters photos)
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GDA emergency management teams and state agriculture response teams immediately deployed to the site and began “depopulation, cleaning and disinfection and disposal operations” on Friday, according to officials.
Operations are expected to continue over the weekend, as there were approximately 45,000 broiler farmers in the affected facilities.
Georgia Agriculture Response Teams were immediately deployed to the site of the infected poultry and began “depopulation, cleaning and disinfection and disposal operations,” according to officials. (Photo: Mary Kang/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
All commercial poultry operations within a six-mile radius have been quarantined and will undergo surveillance testing for a period of at least two weeks, according to the GDA.
Poultry shows, exhibitions, exchanges and sales (flea or auction markets) in Georgia have been suspended until further notice, according to officials. No word on when they might resume.
The case is the first confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Georgia and the fifth case in the state, officials noted.
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In a press briefing on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed public risk for bird flu remains low but is closely monitored.
67 people have been confirmed cases of bird flu since 2022, and 66 occurred in 2024, according to the CDC.
According to officials, bird flu has been confirmed in 67 cases in humans. (iStock / iStock)
“For the first time since 2022, an epidemic began across the country, HPAI [bird flu] confirmed in a commercial poultry operation in the state of Georgia,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “This is a serious threat to Georgia’s #1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make a living in our state poultry industry. We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry operations in Georgia can resume as soon as possible.”
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CDC recommends people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals suspected of being infected and advises poultry workers to wear personal protective equipment.
