Poultry quarantined around the farm where a commercial case was detected

Georgia authorities have confirmed the first-ever case of bird flu in a commercial poultry farm in the state.

State officials have quarantined poultry operations within miles of the farm where inspectors identified it. The suspension means that all poultry exhibitions, shows and sales in Georgia are suspended until further notice.

Channel 2 consumer researcher Justin Gray spoke with Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper about the state’s efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.

“It is important that we address this problem quickly and eliminate it quickly,” Harper said.

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Gray entered the emergency command center that the AG Commissioner had set up to direct the response to the bird flu case.

Poultry is a $30 billion industry in Georgia.

“I can confirm that our poultry products in this state are 100% safe. We have a rigorous testing mechanism in place, both on farm and in processing plants,” Harper said.

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Through this testing, a case of bird flu was identified in Elbert County. Now the state’s goal is to prevent the spread. Authorities even closed roads leading to the area.

All commercial poultry farms within a 10 km radius have been quarantined and will undergo additional surveillance testing for at least two weeks.

This six-mile zone is home to dozens of commercial poultry farms. It is the heart of the Georgian poultry industry.

“The sooner we address this issue, the sooner we can ensure that there is no further spread of the disease to any other commercial or poultry season in this part of the state,” Harper told Gray.

Bird flu has been identified four times in backyard chickens in Georgia. Commercial flocks in 35 other states have reported bird flu since the nationwide outbreak in 2022.

“We can also say with certainty that no infected poultry has ever entered the supply chain,” Harper said.

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