The Georgia Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), has confirmed a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) at a commercial poultry operation in Walker County.
This is the first confirmed HPAI case in Georgia in 2026 and the fourth involving a commercial poultry operation in the state since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022.
The producer first observed increased mortality in the flock on Sunday, Jan. 11, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network (GPLN). Samples were collected and submitted for testing on Monday, Jan. 12. GPLN confirmed a positive HPAI result Monday evening, which was subsequently verified by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
In response, the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Management Team was deployed to the affected site on Tuesday to begin depopulation, disposal, cleaning and disinfection procedures. The impacted facility housed approximately 71,264 broiler breeders, and response operations are expected to continue throughout the week.