Georgia

Should South Georgia be worried about potential impacts from the Bird Flu?

Published

11 months ago

December 25, 2024

Should South Georgia be worried about potential impacts from the Bird Flu?

WALB is working to produce video for this story. In the meantime, we encourage you to watch our livestream.

ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) – According to the CDC, H5N1 or Bird Flu, is a virus that originates from wild birds. Both poultry and cows can contract this virus.

Through consumption of dairy products and interactions with infected animals, humans are also at risk for exposure.

“I think that people need to be appropriately concerned. And for most people, that’s going to mean taking precautions if they are engaging in any type of high-risk exposure. So, if they are a dairy or a poultry farm worker, absolutely they need to be taking precautions,” said Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist from the University of Saskatchewan.

The CDC reports that there are 65 confirmed cases of bird flu in the US, so far none in Georgia. But many are at risk for exposure. Experts say those with backyard chickens should wear appropriate personal protective equipment when near those birds.

“When you think about all the various ways that Avian Influenza can spread, the biggest vector usually is wild birds migrating, bringing the disease into an area it wasn’t before. It’s really hard to control that interaction between domesticated birds and wild birds, especially when we want things like cage free eggs,” said Chad Hart, an Agricultural Economist at Iowa State University.

In November, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that over 6 million infected chickens were slaughtered in an attempt to contain the virus from spreading to humans, but recent trends in raw milk consumption have experts worried for those who prefer unpasteurized dairy products.

“I strongly advise people not to drink raw milk. This is not a good way to immunize yourself against H5N1, and it might be a very good way to infect yourself with a massive dose of H5N1 that could lead to severe or fatal disease, and especially in a child,” continued Rasmussen.

Experts say the spread of Bird Flu from one human to another is rare. It’s more likely for an individual to contract the virus through exposure or consumption of infected animals and their by-products. The University of Georgia is currently one of five institutions working with the Food and Drug Administration to test the country’s dairy supply for signs of H5N1.

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To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

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Georgia

Tariffs hurt Georgia’s ports in October. There’s cautious optimism for 2026.

Published

10 hours ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Tariffs hurt Georgia’s ports in October. There’s cautious optimism for 2026.

Business

‘I really, truly believe things are settling down,’ ports authority CEO says.

The Cosco Pride is unloaded at the Port of Savannah, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Garden City, near Savannah, Ga. (Mike Stewart/AP)

Georgia’s bustling Savannah port wasn’t so busy in October, with container volumes down 8.4% compared to the same month a year ago, as the effects of global tariffs continued.

But Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO Griff Lynch is optimistic that the second half of the fiscal year, starting in January, will see improvement at its Savannah and Brunswick ocean ports.

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President Donald Trump, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shake hands before their meeting at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

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The cargo vessel Zim Mount Vinson navigates the Savannah River moving toward the Port of Savannah, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, in Garden City, near Savannah, Ga. (Mike Stewart/AP)

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Georgia Ports Authority plans to open its new inland rail port, the Blue Ridge Connector, northwest of Gainesville, Ga., in May. It is 80% complete as of November. (Courtesy of Georgia Ports Authority)

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As a business reporter, Emma Hurt leads coverage of the Atlanta airport, Delta Air Lines, UPS, Norfolk Southern and other travel and logistics companies. Prior to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution she worked as an editor and Atlanta reporter for Axios, a politics reporter for WABE News and a business reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

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Georgia

Three Biggest Storylines For Georgia Tech vs Pittsburgh This Saturday

Published

1 day ago

November 17, 2025

Press Room

Three Biggest Storylines For Georgia Tech vs Pittsburgh This Saturday

Latest — Nov 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) controls the ball against North Carolina State Wolfpack saftey Tristan Teasdell (19) during the fourth quarter at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images / Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

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Georgia

Georgia outspends Deep South neighbors in classrooms, Census data shows

Published

2 days ago

November 16, 2025

Press Room

Georgia outspends Deep South neighbors in classrooms, Census data shows

ATLANTA – The U.S. Census Bureau released new preliminary data Thursday showing how much states spent on public education in the 2024 fiscal year. The early results from the Annual Survey of School System Finances reveal wide differences in per pupil spending across the country and offer the first national comparison of school revenue and expenses for the year.

Georgia spending rises to nearly $27B

What we know:

Georgia falls in the middle range of states for per student spending, ranking 18th nationally based on the preliminary numbers now available. The state spent $15,833 per student, placing it above most of the Deep South but below the national leaders.

Georgia reported $31.7 billion in total revenue and $31.0 billion in total expenditures for fiscal year 2024. Current operating spending reached $27.0 billion, while $3.7 billion went to capital projects. Another $252 million represented costs outside the major reporting categories.

The state received $3.8 billion from federal programs, $12.4 billion from state sources and $15.4 billion from local governments. The preliminary data lists Georgia’s fall enrollment at about 1.7 million students.

Inside the classroom, instruction was Georgia’s largest cost at $16.08 billion. Student support services totaled $1.74 billion, and instructional staff support added $1.55 billion. School administration cost $1.50 billion, general administration accounted for $397 million, and operation and maintenance of facilities totaled $2.15 billion. Student transportation added $1.25 billion, and food services cost $1.29 billion.

Georgia’s 2025 education spending

Local perspective:

Instruction: $16,080,616,000
Student support services: $1,744,349,000
Instructional staff support: $1,551,739,000
General administration: $397,567,000
School administration: $1,504,906,000
Operation and maintenance: $2,149,194,000
Student transportation: $1,250,714,000
Other support services: $933,598,000
Food services: $1,290,049,000
Per pupil spending: $15,833
Fall enrollment: 1,705,143
Total revenue: $31,703,886,000
Total expenditures: $31,054,456,000
Current spending: $27,001,844,000
Capital outlay: $3,701,014,000

Georgia compared with the Southeast and Deep South

Dig deeper:

Georgia outpaces most of its neighbors in per pupil spending. The state’s $15,833 figure is higher than:

Florida at $12,689
Alabama at $13,598
Arkansas at $13,873

The Census also shows Georgia ahead of several nearby states in the broader region, including Tennessee, Mississippi and South Carolina, although full spending values for those states were not shown in the preliminary dataset. Among large Southeastern systems, only North Carolina and Virginia tend to spend more per student in recent surveys, though their full 2024 numbers were not part of the file provided.

Georgia remains well below the national leaders. California spent $20,233 per student, and Delaware and Hawaii both topped $22,000. Northeastern states, many of which appear later in the full table, generally occupy the top tier.

Where Georgia stands nationally

By the numbers:

Georgia ranks 18th in per pupil current spending among states included in the preliminary dataset. The state sits just below Colorado and just above Kentucky and Iowa.

Georgia also ranks third in the Southeast among the states visible in the data and first among the Deep South states included.

Nationally, instruction spending places Georgia in the upper third. The state spent $16.08 billion on instruction, trailing only the largest states such as California, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania.

The following states do not appear in the preliminary dataset: Alaska, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.