Georgia Halts Poultry Sales After H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak in Elbert County Affects 45,000 Chickens

Jan 18, 2025, 04:41 PM

Georgia has confirmed its first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) of the H5N1 strain in a commercial poultry operation, leading to a statewide suspension of all poultry sales and related activities. The outbreak was detected in Elbert County, affecting 45,000 chickens. This marks the fifth instance of the virus in Georgia but the first in a commercial setting since the ongoing outbreak began in 2022. In response, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has deployed emergency teams to manage the situation, including cleaning, disinfecting, and disposal operations. All commercial poultry operations within a 6.2-mile radius of the affected site are under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks. The state's poultry industry, Georgia's #1 industry, faces a serious threat, prompting officials to work around the clock to mitigate the spread and resume normal activities as soon as possible.