Bird Flu Found in Georgia Commercial Poultry for First Time

TUESDAY, Jan. 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- For the first time, bird flu has been detected in a commercial poultry flock in Georgia.

The case — confirmed in Elbert County by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service — involves the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

It was the fifth time HPAI was detected in the state but the first case in a commercial poultry operation since the current outbreak began in 2022.

Just last week, GDA officials reported that the virus was found in a backyard flock of 13 chickens and ducks in Clayton County. 

The outbreak poses a significant threat to Georgia’s poultry industry, which ranks as the state’s top agricultural sector.

"This is a serious threat to Georgia's number one industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state's poultry industry," state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said in a statement. "We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry activities in Georgia can resume as quickly as possible."

In response to the outbreak, all poultry exhibits, shows, swaps, meets and sales in Georgia have been suspended until further notice.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more on bird flu.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), news release, Jan. 17, 2025; CBS News