Georgia officials have confirmed the state’s first case bird flustopping all exhibitions, shows, exchanges, meetings and sales of poultry in the state until further notice.

An Elbert County poultry producer noticed signs of bird flu in his flock Wednesday, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Samples were tested and confirmed by the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network and USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.

Test tubes labeled “bird flu” and eggs are seen in this image illustration. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Reuters Photos)

THE FED’S MANDATE BIRD FLU TESTING OF THE MILK SUPPLY

State emergency management and agricultural response teams from the GDA were immediately deployed to the site and began “depopulation, cleaning and disinfection and disposal operations” on Friday, according to officials.

Operations are expected to continue through the weekend as the affected facilities housed about 45,000 chicken breeders.

Georgia Agriculture Response Teams immediately deployed to the site of infected poultry and began “depopulation, cleaning and disinfection and disposal operations,” according to officials. (Photo: Mary Kang/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

All commercial poultry operations within a six-mile radius were quarantined and will undergo surveillance testing for a period of at least two weeks, according to the GDA.

Poultry exhibitions, shows, exchanges and sales (flea market or auction market) in Georgia are suspended until further notice, according to officials. No word on when they might resume.

The case is the first confirmed at a commercial poultry operation in Georgia and the fifth detection in the state, officials said.

HUMAN CASE OF HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS BIRD FLU CONFIRMED IN TEXAS

In a media briefing on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the public risk for bird flu remains low but is being closely monitored.

There have been 67 confirmed humans cases of bird flu from 2022, with 66 occurring in 2024, according to the CDC.

Bird flu has been confirmed in 67 human cases, officials said. (iStock/iStock)

“For the first time since the ongoing national outbreak began in 2022, HPAI (avian influenza) has been confirmed in a commercial poultry operation in the state of Georgia,” said the commissioner of Georgia Agriculture, Tyler Harper. “This is a serious threat to Georgia’s No. 1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in this area of ​​our state. poultry industry. We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry operations in Georgia can resume as soon as possible.”

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The CDC recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals suspected of being infected and advises poultry workers to wear personal protective equipment.