Atlanta, Georgia – The Georgia Department of Agriculture has reported the detection of a fourth case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, in a small backyard flock of chickens and ducks in Clayton County, metro Atlanta. This latest incident marks the continuation of a troubling pattern of outbreaks that have emerged since a nationwide crisis began in early 2022.
High transmission and ability to wipe out domestic and wild bird populations define HPAI as a major threat. With the United States reporting 66 confirmed human instances of the H5N1 bird flu variant, one of which was fatal in Louisiana, unexpectedly, this virus has also proven the ability to infect mammals including people.
Beyond birds, the current outbreak affects dairy cows in 16 different states; Georgia is not affected by this particular spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out this is specifically the first occurrence of mammal-to- human viral transfer. Though no examples of human-to-human transmission have been verified, at least 40 human cases connected to this particular transmission have been reported.
Read also: Governor Kemp prioritizes public safety with historic investment in the prison system across Georgia
Georgia’s agriculture officials reacted quickly to find HPAI in the backyard flock and euthanize the whole flock to stop its further spread. To completely eradicate any residual virus, the impacted premises—which are close to a lake drawing plenty of wild birds— required extensive cleaning and disinfection.
“As the ongoing, nationwide HPAI outbreak continues, implementing and maintaining strict biosecurity measures has never been more important,” said Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper.
“To date, the ongoing outbreak has impacted more than 133 million birds nationwide and less than .025% of those birds have been from Georgia, the nation’s top poultry producer – that speaks to the effectiveness of biosecurity and the importance of the work our animal health professionals and poultry producers are doing every single day to ensure the safety of their animals, employees, and operations.”
The local outbreak has raised concerns over potential economic impacts, especially for commercial farmers who face significant losses when flocks are euthanized. As producers try to control the aftermath from the outbreak, higher market prices for eggs, chicken, and dairy products have also experienced ripple effects.
Read also: Georgia ranked as the top business destination across the nation: study
Poultry owners should constantly monitor their flocks and notify the Avian Influenza Hotline of any unexpected increases in disease or mortality, the Georgia Department of Agriculture says. As state and federal health officials continue to watch and react to changes in this continuous health crisis, the situation remains critical and both of them remain on high alert.
