Georgia’s poultry industry faces first avian influenza outbreak

DAILY Bites

• Avian flu confirmed in a commercial flock, threatening the state’s poultry industry.

• Poultry is Georgia’s #1 industry, the disease’s spread threatens this industry. 

• Biosecurity urged with USDA advises testing birds, avoiding untreated water, and limiting wild bird contact.

DAILY Discussion

For the first time since the nationwide outbreak began in 2022, highly pathogenic avian influenza has struck a commercial poultry operation in Georgia. As the nation’s leading poultry producer, Georgia’s poultry industry is a cornerstone of its economy, and this development poses significant challenges.

“This is a serious threat to Georgia’s No. 1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state’s poultry industry,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “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.”

Avian influenza is a viral disease of poultry that can manifest as either low pathogenicity (LPAI), causing mild illness, or high pathogenicity (HPAI), which leads to severe disease and death. The virus spreads through different strains, such as H1N1 or H7N3, with some LPAI viruses mutating into HPAI. Wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are primary carriers of the virus. Despite its severity in birds, avian influenza does not pose a risk to the food supply, and no affected animals from this outbreak entered the food chain. Additionally, the risk of human infection remains very low.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported HPAI detections across the nation, including two recent cases in Georgia:

• Clayton County: Backyard non-poultry flock, confirmed January 9, 2025
• Elbert County: Commercial poultry flock, confirmed January 17, 2025

To safeguard flocks from the threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza, poultry owners should implement stringent biosecurity measures. The USDA’s Defend the Flock guidelines emphasize several critical steps, including ensuring that all testing and entry requirements are met before moving birds. Owners should use dedicated footwear and wash their hands thoroughly when tending to flocks, avoid allowing poultry to drink untreated water from lakes and ponds, and prevent waterfowl from establishing residence near domestic flocks. Additionally, owners should refrain from interacting with their flocks after exposure to wild birds, zoos, auctions, or hunting environments.

Monitoring flocks closely is equally important. Poultry owners should watch for signs of HPAI, such as a drop in egg production, soft eggshells, discolored combs and feet, loss of appetite, or sudden increases in mortality. Prompt reporting of any unusual symptoms or deaths in domestic or wild birds to state agricultural officials is essential for preventing the disease’s spread.

»Related: H5N1 avian influenza detected in Virginia broiler flock