Winter Weather, Migratory Birds Linked to HPAI Uptick

The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced a positive case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a commercial poultry flock in Hart County, Georgia. This is the third detection of HPAI in a Georgia commercial poultry operation in 2026 and the sixth overall since the nationwide outbreak began in February 2022. Out of caution and because of severe winter weather, on site operations at Hart 01 began Tuesday, January 27, 2026, and are occurring alongside GDA’s response in Walker County.

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper said, “With severe cold weather persisting and migratory waterfowl continuing to pass through our state, it is not unexpected to see an uptick in HPAI cases.” He added that biosecurity remains the best defense and emphasized that there is no threat to the food supply and no deceased birds entered the supply chain.

The producer first noticed increased mortality on Saturday, January 24, 2026, and contacted the Georgia Poultry Laboratory Network. Testing returned a presumptive positive the same day, allowing an immediate response. The broiler-breeder facility housed approximately 39,600 birds. A 10 kilometer control area is under quarantine.