Bird Flu Confirmed at Gordon County Poultry Farm, Officials Move Quickly to Contain Outbreak

GORDON COUNTY, Ga. — State agriculture officials have confirmed a new case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, at a commercial poultry operation in Gordon County. The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) said the virus was detected late last week and that swift containment measures are underway.

This is the third confirmed case of HPAI in a commercial poultry facility — and the fifth overall detection — in Georgia so far this year. The affected farm housed about 140,000 broiler chickens, according to the GDA.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper called the development a serious concern for the state’s top industry.

“For the third time this year, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been confirmed in a commercial poultry operation here in Georgia,” Harper said. “This poses a serious threat to Georgia’s #1 industry and to the thousands of Georgians whose livelihoods depend on poultry production. Our team is working around the clock to contain the spread and protect our flocks.”

The producer first reported signs of illness on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN) the following day. Testing confirmed HPAI late Thursday, with additional confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Friday, Oct. 24.

Following confirmation, state emergency management and agricultural response teams moved quickly to depopulate the affected flock and begin cleanup and disinfection. Those operations are expected to continue through the weekend.

All poultry farms within a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) radius have been placed under quarantine and will undergo surveillance testing for at least two weeks.

Since the start of the national avian influenza outbreak in 2022, more than 182 million birds across the U.S. have been affected — including about 340,000 in Georgia.

Officials are urging poultry owners statewide to remain vigilant, enhance biosecurity practices, and immediately report any signs of illness in their flocks.