Georgia
2nd case of bird flu detected at Georgia poultry farm, quarantine continues
Lohmann Brown chickens stand in a barn at Meadow Haven Farm, a certified organic family run farm, in Sheffield, Illinois(Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. – A second case of bird flu has been detected in a commercial poultry producer in Georgia.
The Georgia Department of Agriculture reported on Wednesday that the agency detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at a commercial poultry producer in Elbert County. It’s the second case reported in the county in less than a week.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said the virus is a “serious threat” to the Georgia poultry industry, the largest industry in the state.
The backstory:
The virus has been detected five times previously in Georgia, but in backyard flocks other than the prior case in Elbert County.
Wednesday’s report is the third case of the virus detected in Georgia in 2025. The first was found among 13 chickens and ducks earlier this month in Clayton County.
In a release by the Department of Agriculture, officials say that they were notified of the second positive result on Friday and the case was confirmed by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory late Tuesday night.
Authorities say the second case was around 210 yards away from the first positive commercial case and that the site, known by the name “Elbert 02” had around 130,000 broilers.
What they’re saying:
“Our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture responded immediately to start depopulation, disposal, and cleaning & disinfecting operations,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “The close proximity of the affected premises allowed our team to respond to both cases concurrently, and while those operations continue, our law enforcement officers are maintaining a secure perimeter to prevent further spread. I want to thank our team at the Georgia Department of Agriculture and our partners, who have been working 12+ hour days during a holiday weekend in the bitter cold to protect our state’s #1 industry and the farm families who fuel its success.”
What’s next:
Bird flu: Georgia shuts down poultry sales
The bird flu outbreak has forced Georgia officials to stop all poultry sales. The state’s first reported case popped up in a flock in east Georgia. Here’s what we know so far.
All commercial poultry operations within a 6.2-mile radius are under quarantine and will undergo testing for at least two weeks. Officials say the close proximity of the two sites means that the previous quarantine does not need to be expanded.
The state has suspended all poultry activity for sales, including auctions, flea markets, and livestock markets.
The sale of poultry products like meat and eggs and poultry production have not been suspended at this time.
Big picture view:
Bird flu has been spreading, killing millions of wild and domestic birds worldwide over the last two years, among other animals.
Nationwide, the virus has been detected in 84 commercial and backyard flocks in the last month, with 10.7 million birds on those sites, according to the latest online data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It has also been confirmed in dozens of dairy farms.
While human cases are rare and are mostly found among farmworkers, one person has died from bird flu — a Louisiana man over the age of 65 who was hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.
The Source: Information for this story came from a release by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, previous FOX 5 reporting, and the Associated Press.
As temperatures rise across Georgia, cooling costs are also expected to climb this summer. The Georgia Public Service Commission is set to hear one of Georgia Power’s proposed agreements aimed at saving customers money on their power bills.
Georgia Power says its proposed agreements could save the typical customer about $4 a month if approved by the commission.
The proposals involve two separate cases before the PSC. One focuses on fuel costs used to operate power plants, while the second deals with storm recovery costs tied to Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Power and the PSC’s Public Interest Advocacy Staff recently reached agreements in both cases. If approved, the company says the typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month could save about $4.04 per month or nearly $50 per year beginning in June.
The proposal comes as a new national report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate projects cooling costs could rise about 8.5% nationwide this year. The report says hotter temperatures and increased energy demand are helping drive costs higher.
Reliable Heating and Air said it is already seeing an increase in service calls across metro Atlanta as more people start using their air conditioning systems.
HVAC experts said homeowners should watch for warning signs, including strange noises, weak airflow, homes cooling slowly or higher-than-normal power bills.
“Biggest mistake they make is not getting a system maintenance,” said Joshua Kelly with Reliable Heating and Air. “A lot of people feel like, ‘Oh no, I don’t have to get maintenance,’ but you most definitely do.”
Experts recommend changing air filters regularly, scheduling maintenance checks, keeping thermostats between 74 and 77 degrees on hot days and addressing airflow problems early.
Resources for Georgia families needing help with cooling costs:
- Georgia LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — Helps eligible low-income households pay heating and cooling bills and may assist during energy emergencies.
- United Way 211 — Connects families with local resources, including utility assistance programs, emergency financial help and community services.
- Partnership for Community Action — Offers utility assistance, energy support programs and other services for eligible families in metro Atlanta.
- Local Community Action Agencies — Many agencies across Georgia provide emergency utility assistance, payment support and additional family resources during extreme heat and high energy demand periods.
ATLANTA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Emory University Hospital are monitoring two Georgia residents following a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship that resulted in three deaths.
Atlanta hospital monitoring
What we know:
A couple returned to Georgia last week and was moved Monday to Emory University Hospital for specialized monitoring. One of the passengers showed mild symptoms of the virus but has since tested negative. Both individuals were passengers on the MV Hondius, a ship where the Andes variant of hantavirus was identified.
The CDC confirmed the patients are being kept in a biocontainment unit designed for highly infectious diseases. Doctors at Emory said one individual is receiving treatment while the other is being monitored, though they emphasize there is no risk to the general public.
Monitoring and travel status
What we don’t know:
Health officials have not confirmed if the passengers will be cleared to leave the hospital or return home before a 42-day period is over. While one test was negative, authorities have not said how many additional tests or how much more observation time is needed before the couple is fully cleared. The exact names and ages of the Georgia residents have not been released due to privacy concerns.
Cruise ship outbreak
The backstory:
The outbreak began in April on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius during a voyage from Argentina. Nine cases have been confirmed and three people died after the virus spread, likely through human-to-human transmission of the Andes strain. This specific strain is known for causing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness.
Low public risk
Big picture view:
While the Andes variant is serious, the CDC and World Health Organization assess the risk to the general public as low. The virus typically spreads through close contact with bodily fluids or respiration rather than everyday social contact. Federal and state health departments are using established protocols to manage the repatriation and monitoring of the 18 Americans who were on the ship.
The Source: Information for this story was gathered from FOX 5 reporter Kevyn Stewart, who attended a news conference with the CDC and Emory University Hospital, as well as official statements from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the World Health Organization.
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