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Georgia Department of Agriculture details rapid response after H5N1 detections in backyard and commercial flocks
Summary
State veterinarians and industry leaders described recent detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in Georgia, emergency response steps taken at affected farms, and collaboration with industry and state partners to contain spread and protect the food supply.
State veterinary and agriculture officials updated the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on a recent cluster of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) detections, including rapid depopulation, disposal, and decontamination steps at affected premises and expanded surveillance in surrounding zones.
Jane Marie Hennebell, Georgia’s state veterinarian, said the national H5N1 outbreak has been ongoing since 2022 and has affected more than 145 million birds across all 50 states and one U.S. territory; she said more than 17 million birds were affected in the previous 30 days. Hennebell summarized Georgia’s detections: backyard flock cases in May 2022 (Toombs County) and August 2022 (Henry County), a November 2023 detection in a commercial raised-for-release waterfowl operation in Sumter County, and new detections in January 2025 — a Clayton County backyard flock (Jan. 9) and two Elbert County commercial operations (Jan. 16–17).
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