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Georgia Confirms 2026’s First Bird Flu Case at Walker County Poultry Farm

State teams began depopulation with a 6.2-mile quarantine after federal labs verified the finding.

Overview

  • The detection was confirmed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture with USDA APHIS, then verified by the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Jan. 13.
  • The producer reported unusual bird deaths on Jan. 11, samples were collected Jan. 12, and the state lab returned a positive result that evening.
  • About 71,264 broiler breeder birds are affected at one commercial operation, with no backyard flocks reported in this case.
  • The GDA Emergency Management Team is conducting depopulation, disposal, cleaning, and disinfection, with operations expected to continue through the week.
  • Commercial operations within 6.2 miles are under quarantine with at least two weeks of testing, agricultural law enforcement is securing the area, and officials have not named the specific farm.