Georgia lifts poultry sale suspension after successful avian flu testing

ATLANTA - Just 24 days after halting the sale of poultry in Georgia due to concerns over the avian flu, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has lifted its suspension.

Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper announced on Monday that the suspension was lifted following successful testing and other surveillance data not detecting the virus.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Georgia

The backstory:

The suspension, which affected live poultry activities such as auctions, flea markets, meetups, swaps, and exhibitions, was initially put in place as part of containment efforts. A control area was established within a 6.2-mile radius of the affected farms in Elbert County, encompassing 103 commercial poultry operations. All operations in the control area underwent heightened testing and movement restrictions, with the Georgia Poultry Lab Network (GPLN) conducting 4,541 tests on 49,951 chickens across hundreds of flocks. No additional HPAI detections were found, leading to the lifting of the suspension.

Movement restrictions were implemented, requiring permits for transporting birds or related products in, out, or within the control area. Negative HPAI test results were among several requirements for permit approval. Over the course of the outbreak response, officials issued 240 movement permits, covering approximately 600 regulated movements.

Bird flu testing in Georgia

Timeline:

The Georgia Department of Agriculture received notification of a "non-negative" HPAI test result from the GPLN on January 16, with another reported the following morning. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed HPAI cases at two commercial poultry operations—Elbert 01 on Jan.17 and Elbert 02 on Jan. 21. In response, the Department activated its Emergency Operations Center within an hour of the initial notification and dispatched personnel to Elbert County that evening. Depopulation, disposal, and disinfection efforts began on January 17 and were conducted concurrently at both sites, with law enforcement officers maintaining a biosecurity perimeter to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate further spread of the disease.

Is bird flu gone in Georgia?

What they're saying:

"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," Harper said. "While this announcement is a great step in the right direction, HPAI remains a significant threat to our #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."

Elbert County remains under quarantine

What's next:

While the immediate threat has subsided, the two affected premises in Elbert County will remain under quarantine until further notice. Officials stress that HPAI remains a risk to Georgia’s poultry industry, and the Department of Agriculture continues to monitor for potential outbreaks, urging poultry owners to maintain rigorous biosecurity measures.