Georgia, the top state for chicken production in the nation, has reported its first case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at a commercial poultry producer in Elbert County. The state Department of Agriculture made the announcement after detecting the virus at the location, which is approximately 100 miles northeast of Atlanta.
This marks the fourth instance of bird flu being detected in Georgia, with previous cases limited to backyard flocks. The recent case involved around 45,000 broiler breeders at the Elbert County site. The Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network confirmed the virus detection, which was later verified by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
