For the first time since the 2022 nationwide avian flu outbreak, a commercial poultry farm in Georgia, the top chicken-producing state in the U.S., has confirmed an infection.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced on Friday that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) was found at a poultry facility in Elbert County, located approximately 100 miles (165 kilometers) northeast of Atlanta. In response, the state has temporarily halted all poultry-related events, including shows, swaps, and sales.
Unlike previous incidents in Georgia, which were confined to backyard flocks, this is the first case to impact a commercial operation. Earlier in January, a backyard flock of 13 chickens and ducks in Clayton County, south of Atlanta, tested positive for the virus.
“This situation poses a significant threat to Georgia’s leading industry and the thousands of workers whose livelihoods depend on poultry farming,” stated Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.
Farm personnel noticed unusual symptoms in the birds on Wednesday, prompting immediate testing by the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Results confirmed the virus on Thursday, and federal testing by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory corroborated the findings on Friday. At the time, the farm housed about 45,000 broiler breeders.
To address the outbreak, Georgia’s agricultural emergency teams were dispatched to the farm. Their mission includes the humane culling of infected birds, thorough cleaning and disinfection of the facility, and proper disposal of waste materials.
All commercial poultry facilities within a 6.2-mile (10-kilometer) radius of the infected farm have been placed under quarantine. These sites will undergo rigorous testing over the next two weeks to ensure the virus does not spread further.
Mike Giles, president of the Georgia Poultry Federation, assured the public that chicken products remain safe to consume, thanks to strict testing protocols. He also emphasized the industry’s close collaboration with state and federal authorities to mitigate the impact of this outbreak and safeguard poultry operations.
