GORDON COUNTY, GA — The Georgia Department of Agriculture has officially lifted the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Control Area designation in Gordon County after completing all required testing and response measures with no new detections reported, officials announced Monday.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said the release marks a significant step forward for the state’s poultry industry but emphasized that vigilance remains critical.
“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 said. “While this announcement is a great step in the right direction, HPAI remains a significant threat to our No. 1 industry, and we will continue to work with poultry producers to protect our state’s flocks and to keep prices as low as possible for Georgia consumers.”
Initial Detection and Response
The incident began when the Georgia Poultry Lab Network reported a “non-negative” test result for HPAI on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. The result was confirmed the following day by the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory.
Within hours of confirmation, the Georgia Department of Agriculture activated its Emergency Operations Center and deployed personnel to Gordon County. Depopulation, disposal, and cleaning and disinfecting operations began immediately, while GDA law enforcement officers secured a biosecurity perimeter around the affected farm, known as “Gordon 01,” to prevent spread of the virus.
Control Area and Surveillance Efforts
A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) control area was established around the affected property, encompassing roughly 50 additional commercial poultry operations. All farms within this zone underwent enhanced testing and movement restrictions.
During the response, the Georgia Poultry Lab Network completed 1,790 tests covering more than 10,600 individual birds and hundreds of flocks — all returning negative for HPAI.
Movement Permits
To maintain containment, the state required permits for any movement of birds or poultry-related products into, out of, or within the control area. Receiving a permit required a negative HPAI test among other criteria. In total, the department issued 50 permits, covering 356 monitored movements.
With all surveillance concluding successfully and no further detections reported, state officials have now cleared the area, allowing normal operations to resume.
