GFB News Magazine
Avian flu found in Georgia commercial flocks
by Jennifer Whittaker
Posted on March 9, 2025 9:29 AM
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Two commercial poultry farms in Elbert County located about 210 yards apart tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in January. One farm had broiler breeders that produce fertilized eggs incubated at a hatchery to supply broilers and the other grew broilers, chickens raised for meat, the Georgia Department of Agriculture reported.
The Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN) confirmed Jan. 16 that the first farm had HPAI after the producer noticed his flock showing clinical signs of avian flu on Jan. 15. On Jan. 17, the GPLN found samples collected from the second poultry farm in routine pre-movement testing were positive for HPAI.
No other cases were found in commercial flocks, and by March 4, Georgia regained its HPAI-free status from the World Organization for Animal Health. This designation allows Georgia poultry products to resume being exported.
On Feb. 10, the GDA lifted the suspension it placed in January on poultry activities in Georgia involving live birds including sales at auctions, flea & livestock markets, swaps and exhibitions.
Because the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (USDA NVSL) confirmed on Jan. 17 the case of HPAI at the first farm, which was located so close to the second, the GDA was able to begin depopulating both flocks before receiving additional confirmation from USDA NVSL on the second farm. GDA, however, had to wait to publicly announce the second positive case until it received USDA confirmation late in the evening Jan. 21.
“Our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture responded immediately to start depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfecting operations,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said. “The proximity of the affected premises allowed our team to respond to both cases concurrently. I want to thank our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture and our partners, who worked 12-plus hour days during a holiday weekend [Jan. 17-20] in the bitter cold to protect our state’s #1 industry and the farm families who fuel its success.”
According to the GDA, the first farm had about 45,000 broiler breeders while the second had about 130,000 broilers.
These were Georgia’s first HPAI cases in commercial poultry flocks since the latest nationwide outbreak began in 2022, the GDA reports. There have been three detections of HPAI in Georgia backyard poultry flocks since 2022, including a small flock of chickens and ducks in Clayton County announced Jan. 10. HPAI has also been detected in wild birds in Georgia.
HPAI began affecting U.S. commercial flocks in 2015, but strains of the avian flu virus have been circulating and diversifying globally for at least 100 years, according to a paper published by the National Library of Medicine.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports there is no evidence that anyone in the United States has been infected with avian flu 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 flu viruses.
If you think your commercial or backyard flock may have avian flu, call the Georgia Avian Influenza hotline at 770-766-6850 or visit www.gapoultrylab.org/avian-influenza-hotline/.
If you see large numbers of dead wild birds in one location, report this to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources at 1-800-366-2661 or visit https://georgiawildlife.com/report-dead-birds.
For more information about avian flu visit: