#USA, Highly Pathogenic Avian #Influenza #H5N1 Confirmed in Commercial #Poultry Flock in #Georgia, All Poultry Activities Suspended

Atlanta, Ga – Today, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry operation located in Elbert County, Georgia. 

This is the first confirmed HPAI case in a commercial poultry operation in Georgia, and the fifth detection in the state of Georgia. 

As a result of this detection, effective immediately, all in-state poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales are suspended until further notice.  

"For the first time since the ongoing, nationwide outbreak began in 2022, HPAI has been 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 their living in our state’s poultry industry. 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."

On Wednesday, January 15th, 2025, the producer noticed clinical signs of Avian Influenza in their flock. Samples were collected on the morning of Thursday, January 16th, 2025, and transported to the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN) for testing. A positive HPAI detection was confirmed by GPLN on Thursday afternoon, and further confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Friday, January 17th, 2025. 

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management and State Agricultural Response Teams (SART) immediately deployed to the affected premises to conduct depopulation, cleaning and disinfecting, and disposal operations on Friday, January 17th, 2025.  Operations are expected to continue into the weekend. The affected premises had approximately 45,000 broiler breeders onsite at the time of detection. 

All commercial poultry operations within a 10 Kilometer (6.2 mile) radius have been placed under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for a period of at least two weeks. 

As a result of this detection, poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, and sales (flea market or auction market) in the State of Georgia are suspended until further notice. Notifications will be issued when the listed activities may resume in Georgia. 

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Date: January 17, 2025 

To: Georgia Poultry Producers 

Subject: HPAI in the United States 

From: Janemarie Hennebelle, DVM, MPVM State Veterinarian 

Effective immediately all poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales (Flea Markets, Auction Markets) in the State of Georgia are suspended until further notice.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been identified in commercial poultry flocks and a backyard flock in the State of Georgia alongside an increasing number of cases nationwide. Please see Commercial, Backyard, & Wildlife cases in the United States (USDA APHIS) for more information about HPAI detections in the United States. 

Poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales (flea markets, auction markets) in the State of Georgia are suspended until further notice. Notifications will be announced when listed activities can resume in Georgia. 

Good biosecurity practices are the best defense against AI infection and poultry producers must take the following measures to protect their flocks: 

-- Move poultry with outside access indoors. 

-- Continue strict biosecurity practices, including a clear line of separation on the farm. 

-- Monitor flocks for clinical signs of HPAI. 

-- Birds may become quiet, not eat or drink, and have discolored combs and feet, or die suddenly with no signs of disease. 

-- Report unexplained mortality in your birds immediately. 

-- Avian Influenza (AI) is a reportable disease in Georgia. If you have concerns about AI in birds, call the Georgia Avian Influenza hotline at 770-766-6850 or visit https://www.gapoultrylab.org/avian-influenza-hotline/. 

-- Report dead wild birds when seen in unusually high numbers in a single location to DNR. Call 1-800-366-2661 or report online at https://georgiawildlife.com/report-dead-birds. 

Biosecurity and other resources: 

- GDA Avian Influenza Resource Page 

- Protect Your Flock (GDA) 

- Defend the Flock - Resource Center (USDA APHIS)

Source: Department of Agriculture, https://agr.georgia.gov/pr/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-confirmed-commercial-poultry-flock-georgia-all-poultry

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