Georgia’s Department of Agriculture is lifting suspension of poultry activities after recent tests and response protocols found no detections of the Pathogenic Avian Influenza, otherwise known as as bird flu, according to state officials.
Recent suspensions over certain poultry activities came amid at least two cases of the virus being detected on two premises in Elbert County, which will remain under quarantine until further notice.
“I’m excited to announce that both commercial poultry producers in the control area and poultry enthusiasts across our state can return to normal operations,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said Monday. “While this announcement is a great step in the right direction, HPAI remains a significant threat to our No. 1 industry, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will continue working around the clock to protect our state’s flocks and to keep prices as low as possible for Georgia consumers.”
Outbreak in Elbert County
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) was first alerted to the outbreak on Jan. 16 after receiving a “non-negative” test result for HPAI from the Georgia Poultry Lab Network (GPLN). A second “non-negative” result came the following morning, prompting further testing. Confirmatory results from the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on January 17 and January 21 confirmed the presence of HPAI at two sites in Elbert County, designated as Elbert 01 and Elbert 02.
In response, the GDA quickly activated its Emergency Operations Center and deployed staff to the Elbert County area. Depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfecting operations began immediately on January 17 and were conducted concurrently at both sites, due to their close proximity. GDA Law Enforcement officers set up a biosecurity perimeter around the affected premises to prevent unauthorized access and minimize the spread of the virus.
Suspension of poultry activities, now lifted
In the wake of the outbreak, the GDA immediately suspended all poultry activities involving live birds. This included sales at auctions, flea markets, livestock markets, meet-ups, swaps and exhibitions. Following the completion of testing protocols and the release of the control area, the suspension was lifted, and all poultry activities are now permitted to resume as normal.
Testing, curveillance, and control measures
The GDA had established a control area, a 6.2-mile radius around the affected premises, encompassing approximately 103 additional commercial poultry operations. Each of these operations was subject to increased testing and movement controls due to their proximity to the affected premises. In total, the Georgia Poultry Lab Network conducted 4,541 tests across 49,951 individual chickens and hundreds of flocks, with no additional detections of HPAI.
Movement permitting
To further safeguard against the spread of the virus, the GDA implemented movement controls that required a permit for any movement of birds or related products within, into, or out of the control area. Negative HPAI test results were a key requirement for receiving a permit. During the event, the Department issued 240 movement permits, representing approximately 600 movements.
Continued vigilance and protection efforts
Though the situation in Elbert County has been resolved, Harper stressed continued vigilance to protect Georgia’s poultry industry – the largest in the nation.
“HPAI remains a significant threat, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture will continue working to safeguard our poultry industry and ensure affordable prices for Georgia consumers,” he said.
