Georgia Department of Agriculture Lifts Bird Flu Control Measures in Gordon County

The Georgia Department of Agriculture announced today the end of the control area measures in Gordon County related to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. The move comes after rigorous efforts to contain the outbreak, which included depopulation and extensive testing within a designated radius of the initial detection site.

According to a statement by the Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper, the lifting of the control area signals a victory for the state's poultry operations. "I'm pleased to announce the release of the HPAI control area for Gordon 01 and the successful completion of all required surveillance testing with no additional HPAI detections," Harper stated, as reported by the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The commissioner also acknowledged HPAI's ongoing threat to Georgia's leading industry, pledging continued coordination with producers to safeguard poultry and keep consumer prices stable.

Detection of HPAI at the Gordon 01 premises was initially made on October 23, 2025, and confirmed the following day by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory. Immediate action was taken by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, including the establishment of an Emergency Operations Center, biosecurity measures, and a 10km radius control area around the site. Within this zone, approximately 50 additional commercial poultry operations underwent rigorous surveillance and testing in a bid to prevent the spread of the avian disease.

Throughout the control area, the Georgia Poultry Lab Network (GPLN) completed 1,790 tests representing 10,690 individual chickens and hundreds of flocks all without any further detections of the avian flu. The state's movement permitting system also played a critical role, with 50 permits being issued to regulate the transport of birds and related products within and outside the control zone. Each permit necessitated negative testing for HPAI as part of its requirements.