Ag News
HPAI Confirmed in 2nd Commercial Poultry Flock in Elbert County
Posted on Jan 22, 2025 at 8:48 AM
This morning, Jan. 22, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a second positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Elbert County.
The premises, referred to as Elbert 02, is located about 210 yards away from Elbert 01, the first positive commercial flock announced late Jan. 17 after detection on Jan. 15. Elbert 02 had approximately 130,000 broilers onsite. The first infected premise had about 45,000 broilers onsite at the time of detection.
On Friday, Jan. 17, samples that were collected from the second commercial poultry operation for routine, premovement testing by the Georgia Poultry Lab Network returned a positive result for HPAI. The GDA was notified of the second positive result by the Georgia Poultry Lab Network on Jan. 17. That detection enabled GDA staff to initiate operations on the ground without waiting to receive additional confirmation from USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. Additional confirmation through NVSL is needed before an HPAI event is publicly announced, and that confirmation was received from NVSL late in the evening on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
“The close proximity of the affected premises allowed our team to respond to both cases concurrently, and while those operations continue, our law enforcement officers are maintaining a secure perimeter to prevent further spread,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper said in a released statement. “I want to thank our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture and our partners, who have been working 12 plus hour days during a holiday weekend in the bitter cold to protect our state’s #1 industry and the farm families who fuel its success.”
The GDA’s Emergency Management & State Agricultural Response Team deployed immediately to the initially affected premises (Elbert 01) and expanded to include Elbert 02 to conduct depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfecting operations. Operations occurred concurrently due to the close physical proximity and the positive detection at the Georgia Poultry Lab Network of the second location. Depopulation of Elbert 01 and Elbert 02 was completed in the initial 48 hours after detection. Disposal and cleaning & disinfecting operations are ongoing, and GDA Law Enforcement officers continue to maintain a secure perimeter around the affected premises.
Animal disease response protocols require immediate action when HPAI is detected to successfully mitigate further spread of the disease. In the case of Elbert 02, a positive result from the Georgia Poultry Lab Network enabled the Georgia Department of Agriculture to initiate operations on the ground without waiting on confirmatory results from USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory. However, further confirmation of HPAI by NVSL is needed prior to a case being announced publicly in Georgia. While NVSL testing will provide additional information on the HPAI virus involved in these cases, the additional information does not change the Department’s protocol and need to initiate an immediate response.
This is the second detection of HPAI in a commercial poultry flock in Georgia, and the sixth detection overall in Georgia since the nationwide outbreak began in 2022. The first four detections were in wild birds or backyard poultry flocks.
The suspension of poultry activities for sales (auction market, flea market, or other livestock market), shows, swaps, meet ups, and exhibitions involving live birds remains in effect until further notice. Retail sales of poultry products like meat and eggs as well as poultry production and processing operations are not impacted by the suspension. More information on suspended activities is available here, and notifications will be issued when the suspension is lifted.
The Centers for Disease Control reports there is no evidence that anyone in the United States has gotten infected with avian influenza A viruses after eating properly handled and cooked poultry products or eggs. Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza A viruses.
“HPAI remains a serious threat to our state’s economy, Georgia’s #1 industry, and the health and safety poultry in our state, and our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture responded immediately to start depopulation, disposal, and cleaning & disinfecting operations,” said Agriculture Commissioner Harper.
All commercial poultry operations within a 6.2 mile radius remain under quarantine and will continue to undergo increased surveillance testing for a period of at least two weeks. Given the close proximity of Elbert 01 and Elbert 02, an additional quarantine radius was not required and a permit from the GDA is needed to move poultry and poultry products moving into, out of, and within the control area.
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, 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/.
Anyone who sees unusually high numbers of dead wild birds in a single location should report this to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Call 1-800-366-2661 or report online at https://georgiawildlife.com/report-dead-birds.
For more information about HPAI & biosecurity tips visit:
Protect Your Flock (Georgia Dept. of Ag)
Avian Influenza FAQ (Georgia Dept. of Ag)
Defend the Flock - Resource Center (USDA APHIS)
Protect Your Livelihood PDF (For commercial poultry producers)
AI Information for Hunters (USDA)
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