An outbreak of bird flu in Georgia has halted poultry sales and increased human cases

Georgia officials confirmed the state’s first case Bird fluAll poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meetings, and sales within the state will be suspended until further notice.

An Elbert County poultry producer on Wednesday noticed signs of bird flu in their flock, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Samples were tested and confirmed by the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network and the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory.

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Officials said GDA’s state agricultural emergency management and response teams immediately deployed to the site and began “evacuation, cleanup, disinfection and disposal operations” on Friday.

Operations are expected to continue until the end of the week, as the damaged buildings house about 45,000 broiler breeders on site.

All commercial poultry operations within a six-mile radius have been placed under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks, according to the GDA.

Poultry fairs, shows, swaps and sales (flea market or auction market) in Georgia have been suspended until further notice, according to officials. No word on when they might resume.

Officials noted that this case is the first to be confirmed in a commercial poultry operation in Georgia, and the fifth case to be discovered in the state.

A rare human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in Texas

In a press conference on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed. General risks Bird flu infection rates remain low, but are being closely monitored.

67 people have been confirmed Bird flu cases Since 2022, with 66 cases occurring in 2024, according to the CDC.

“For the first time since the nationwide outbreak began in 2022, HPAI has been confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in the state of Georgia,” said Tyler Harper, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture. “This is a serious threat to Georgia’s No. 1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make a living in our state. Poultry industry. “We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure normal poultry activities resume in Georgia as quickly as possible.”

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The CDC recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals suspected of being infected, and advises poultry workers to wear personal protective equipment.