Bird Flu Strikes Georgia Poultry Industry

It's the worst nightmare for Georgia's largest industry. Bird flu has infected a commercial operation for the first time since 2022. Authorities have responded by shutting down all poultry activities statewide. For the state where chicken brings in billions in revenue, the threat now spreads far beyond the farm fence.

The Discovery

A poultry producer in Elbert County reported something amiss in his flock last Wednesday. Birds exhibited symptoms consistent with the flu, and testing protocols were immediately implemented. By Friday, state and federal labs confirmed the worst: bird flu had reached a commercial operation housing 45,000 broiler breeders. Now every farm within six miles sits under strict quarantine.

This is the fifth time bird flu has shown up in Georgia since the national outbreak began, but the first in a commercial operation. Previous cases stuck to backyard flocks, making this jump to commercial farming particularly concerning.