Avian Influenza Strikes Georgia Duck Breeding: In Sumter County, Georgia, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service have confirmed the first case of Avian Influenza in a duck breeding facility. The affected waterfowl flock, located in south Georgia, tested positive for bird flu. It’s crucial to note that bird flu doesn’t pose a risk to the food supply, and none of the affected animals have entered the food chain.
Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper emphasized the significance of this confirmation, marking the first instance of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial duck breeding operation in Georgia in 2023. The response from the Animal Health Specialists was swift, involving the quarantine of the affected premises and the initiation of depopulation to prevent further spread.
The team continues to monitor all other flocks within the control area. While HPAI doesn’t pose a significant threat to humans or the safety of the food supply, its impact on poultry is devastating. The collaborative efforts with partners at APHIS aim to protect Georgia’s poultry industry.
The flock owner reported the case on November 18, prompted by ducks exhibiting signs of neurological impairment and increased mortality. Samples were collected and tested at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, with results verified by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa.
In a proactive measure to curb the spread of the disease, officials have decided to cull around 30,000 birds in the affected flock. Ongoing monitoring of nearby flocks is underway to ensure that the disease does not propagate.
This announcement follows similar cases in Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida in recent weeks, with wild birds identified as the source of the disease transmission to the flocks.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Can avian flu spread to ducks?
Avian influenza A viruses are highly contagious among birds and can make certain domesticated bird species, like chickens, ducks, and turkeys, very sick or even cause death. Infected birds can spread these viruses through their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces.
Can avian flu pass through eggs?
Eggs do not carry the avian flu virus in the blood, so the risk of infection from handling them is low. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirms that there have been no reported cases of avian flu infection from consuming properly cooked eggs. Heating eggs to 160°F (71°C) is effective in destroying the avian flu virus.
Is there avian flu in Georgia?
In 2023, the Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced the first confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial Duck breeding operation in Georgia.
Is bird flu still around 2023?
On November 29, 2023, the presence of a very serious form of bird flu, known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, was detected in commercial poultry near Cranbrook, East Devon, Devon. This was identified as case AIV 2023/58. After effectively containing the disease and closely monitoring the area, the 10km surveillance zone has been lifted.