Peach Tree Times

The Georgia Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, has confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry operation located in Elbert County, Georgia. This marks the first instance of HPAI in a commercial poultry setting within the state and the fifth overall detection in Georgia.

In response to this confirmation, all poultry-related activities such as exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets, and sales have been suspended across Georgia until further notice. Tyler Harper, Georgia's Agriculture Commissioner, emphasized the gravity of the situation by stating: "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."

The affected producer identified signs of Avian Influenza on January 15th. Samples were subsequently collected and tested at the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN), which confirmed HPAI presence on January 16th. The USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory corroborated these findings on January 17th.

Emergency Management and State Agricultural Response Teams from the Georgia Department of Agriculture were dispatched to manage depopulation and sanitation efforts at the impacted site. Approximately 45,000 broiler breeders were present at this location when HPAI was detected.

A quarantine has been imposed on all commercial poultry operations within a 10-kilometer radius for surveillance testing over a minimum two-week period. Janemarie Hennebelle, State Veterinarian, reiterated that all related activities are halted until further announcements are made.

Producers are urged to implement stringent biosecurity measures to protect their flocks. These include moving birds indoors if they have outdoor access and maintaining strict separation protocols on farms. Monitoring for clinical signs such as sudden death or discolored combs is also advised.

Avian Influenza remains a reportable disease in Georgia; producers should report any unusual bird mortality immediately through designated hotlines or online platforms provided by local authorities.