Ag News

Ga. Dept. of Ag says avian flu found in second Walker Co. commercial poultry flock

 

 Today, Jan. 24,  the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), confirmed a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a second commercial poultry flock in Walker County, Georgia. 

The affected premises, designated Walker 02, is located within the existing Control Area and housed approximately 16,000 broiler breeder chickens. In response—and amid forecasted inclement weather expected across North Georgia this weekend—state and federal response teams have accelerated on-site operations to protect animal health, safeguard personnel, and prevent further spread of the virus. As a result of this swift response, depopulation at Walker 02 was completed yesterday, Jan. 23.

This marks the second detection of HPAI in a commercial poultry operation in Georgia in 2026 and the fifth detection overall since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.

“Through routine surveillance testing, a second commercial poultry operation in Walker County has been confirmed positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Control area testing is critical to identifying the virus as early as possible and limiting its spread into the environment,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler  Harper. “HPAI poses a serious threat to Georgia’s number one industry and to the thousands of Georgians whose livelihoods depend on poultry production. The Georgia Department of Agriculture deployed immediately to Walker 02, and our teams are working around the clock to contain the virus, protect our state’s poultry flock, and minimize impacts to other producers and Georgia consumers.”

On Thursday, Jan. 22, premovement samples were collected from the commercial poultry operation and the Georgia Poultry Lab Network (GPLN) returned a presumptive positive result for HPAI. This early notification allowed GDA to immediately initiate on-site response operations in accordance with animal disease response protocols, without waiting for confirmatory testing from the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL). Public announcement of an HPAI detection requires confirmation from NVSL, which was received late in the afternoon on Jan. 23. While NVSL testing provides additional information about the virus strain, it does not change the GDA’s required response, which mandates immediate action to contain the disease through depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfecting operations that remain ongoing.

All commercial poultry operations within a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) control area remain under quarantine and are subject to enhanced surveillance testing. Due to the proximity of the Walker 01 and Walker 02 premises, the control area was expanded to include five additional farms. Movement of poultry, poultry products, and related materials into, out of, or within the control area is strictly prohibited without a permit issued by GDA. To further prevent the spread of the disease, the affected premises have been secured by GDA Law Enforcement, and access is limited exclusively to authorized personnel.

Good biosecurity practices are the best defense against AI infection and poultry producers must take the following measures to protect their flocks: 

Move poultry with outside access indoors. 

Continue strict biosecurity practices, including a clear line of separation on the farm. 

Monitor flocks for clinical signs of HPAI. 

Birds may become quiet, not eat or drink, have discolored combs and feet, or die suddenly with no signs of disease. 

Report unexplained mortality in your birds immediately. 

Avian Influenza (AI) is a reportable disease in Georgia. If you have concerns about AI in birds, call the Georgia Avian Influenza hotline at 770-766-6850 or visit https://www.gapoultrylab.org/avian-influenza-hotline/ . 

Anyone who sees unusually high numbers of dead wild birds in a single location should report this to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Call 1-800-366-2661 or report online at https://georgiawildlife.com/report-dead-birds.

For more information about HPAI & biosecurity tips visit:

Protect Your Flock (Georgia Dept. of Ag)

Avian Influenza FAQ  (Georgia Dept. of Ag)

Defend the Flock - Resource Center (USDA APHIS)

AI Information for Hunters (USDA)

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