Georgia officials announced Wednesday that a second commercial poultry flock in the state had been found with a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

HealthDay News — For the first time, bird flu has been detected in a commercial poultry flock in Georgia. The case — confirmed in Elbert County by the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service — involves the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

The Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the second case of bird flu was also identified in Elbert County.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture shut down all poultry activities, including sales and exhibitions, in the state after bird flu was detected at a commercial poultry operation.

Two cases of confirmed bird flu have been discovered in close proximity. Commercial poultry operations within 10 kilometers remain under quarantine.

Bird flu has wreaked havoc on the egg market. In November and December alone, 17.2 million egg-laying hens died as a result of the virus. That’s nearly half of all birds killed by the virus in 2024, according to the USDA. And it will take months to replace those flocks.

Georgia officials suspended the sale of poultry in the state after confirming a positive case of bird flu in a commercial operation, threatening one of the state's prime industries.

Georgia, the top US chicken-producing state, confirmed its second recent case of bird flu in a commercial poultry flock, putting exports of the meat at risk.

Poultry production is Georgia’s number one industry, but the recent instances of bird flu could cause major disruptions for farmers and consumers.