Georgia Confirms First Bird Flu Case in Commercial Poultry Facility

The outbreak threatens the state’s poultry industry, export restrictions, and public health while prompting containment measures.

Georgia, the leading U.S. chicken producer, has reported its first bird flu case in a commercial poultry operation in Elbert County, involving 45,000 breeder chickens.
State officials have quarantined poultry operations within a 6.2-mile radius and suspended all poultry exhibitions and sales until further notice to prevent further spread.
The outbreak has prompted trade restrictions from major importers like Mexico, Taiwan, and South Korea, with estimated export losses of $34 million for Georgia's poultry industry.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $590 million to Moderna to accelerate the development of mRNA-based vaccines targeting bird flu strains.
Since 2022, over 138 million birds in the U.S. have been affected by bird flu, with 67 human cases and one death reported, primarily among individuals with direct exposure to infected animals.