A commercial poultry producer in Georgia, the nation’s leading chicken producer, has reported its first case of bird flu since the 2022 nationwide outbreak. The state Department of Agriculture confirmed the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at a poultry facility in Elbert County, approximately 100 miles northeast of Atlanta.
The virus, which has previously affected only backyard flocks in Georgia, was first identified at the commercial site on Wednesday after the producer noticed clinical signs of infection. The Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network confirmed the positive case on Thursday, and the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory validated the findings on Friday. The affected farm had approximately 45,000 broiler breeders at the time of the detection.
As part of the response, Georgia’s Department of Agriculture has suspended all poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales. Additionally, all commercial poultry operations within a 6.2-mile radius of the affected facility have been placed under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks.
“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,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper in a statement.
The state’s Emergency Management team responded to the situation on Friday, deploying State Agricultural Response Teams to conduct depopulation, cleaning, and disinfecting procedures at the site. Efforts are also underway to safely dispose of infected birds.
Mike Giles, president of the Georgia Poultry Federation, which represents poultry producers in the state, emphasized the industry’s commitment to ensuring the safety of poultry products. “We are working closely with state and federal officials, and there are established testing processes to guarantee that all chicken products sold for consumption are safe,” Giles said in a statement.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture, citing concerns over security and the spread of the disease, has not disclosed the name of the affected poultry facility.
This case comes amid a nationwide surge in bird flu cases. Over the past month, the virus has been detected in 84 commercial and backyard flocks across the U.S., affecting approximately 10.7 million birds, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, bird flu has been confirmed in numerous dairy farms.
While human cases remain rare, with most occurring among farmworkers, one fatality has been reported: a Louisiana man over the age of 65, who died after being hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms linked to the virus.
The outbreak continues to raise concerns about its impact on the poultry industry and the broader agricultural economy, with both state and federal officials working to mitigate the spread of the disease.
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