CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 05/10/02

Avian Flu Poses Threat to Georgia Poultry

An avian influenza virus outbreak can cause millions of dollars in economic damage. But officials hope to keep this virus out of Georgia and away from its multibillion dollar poultry industry before it does.

The virus has caused the eradication of about 3 million chickens in Virginia and cost the poultry industry there millions of dollars in damage. The virus is also in North Carolina, said Dan Cunningham of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

"It's a bad and very contagious disease that is easily spread among poultry," said Cunningham, Extension Service coordinator for the CAES poultry science department. "We're very concerned in keeping it out of Georgia."

Deadly Quickly


Photo: USDA

Avian flu has already hit other states hard. Officials hope to keep it away from Georgia's multi-billion dollar poultry industry.
The virus detected in Virginia and North Carolina a month ago is only mildly pathogenic, he said. With this form of the virus, a chicken has respiratory problems, not unlike humans with the flu. It also affects the growth of the chicken, but it isn't deadly in most cases.

However, this mild version has been known to turn very quickly into the highly pathogenic and deadly form of avian influenza virus. "When this happens," Cunningham said, "the mortality rate goes much higher, and it becomes much more contagious."

Any such virus would have a devastating effect on Georgia's $10 billion poultry industry, he said.

No Cure

There is no cure for the virus. The only way to contain it is to eradicate the infected birds. This is what is happening in Virginia and North Carolina right now. And they're beginning to get a handle on the spread of the virus through these states, he said.

Chickens to be processed for commercial sale are raised in flocks in houses on growers' farms. One chicken house will get four to six flocks of birds in one year.

Cunningham said it's common for chicken flocks to cross state lines, especially in the Southeast.

Stop It?

This prompted the Georgia Department of Agriculture to put the brakes on any birds coming from Virginia or North Carolina into Georgia. Any chickens coming into Georgia from any other state now have to be certified that they come from an avian influenza-clean flock.

There has never been an outbreak of this virus in Georgia. Recently, though, birds in Georgia have been traced back to a flock that originated from an infected area in North Carolina.

Certain wild birds can also carry the virus.

"But we do not have the virus in Georgia right now," Cunningham said.

Scientists are exploring ways to fight this virus. But there is no vaccine. The best way to fight the virus, Cunningham said, is to not get it.

Brad Haire is the former news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Dan L. Cunningham
A Master Gardener with UGA Extension teaches a class at the GROWL Fulton County Demonstration and Teaching Garden. (Submitted photo) CAES News
Volunteers uplift statewide UGA Extension outreach programs 04/22/24 Sheri Dorn, Keri Gandy Hobbs
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension depends on thousands of volunteers who give generously to extend program impact and reach in support Extension missions. During Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-28, UGA Extension celebrates the many volunteers who donate their time to facilitate 4-H, Master Gardener and Family and Consumer Sciences programming. Volunteers across Extension contributed over 324,200 hours in 2023, the equivalent of more than 155 full-time employees.
uga commencement CAES News
CAES to celebrate new graduates during May 9 convocation 04/18/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
As another academic year draws to a close, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is gearing up for its Athens campus convocation ceremony, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, at The Classic Center in Athens. “Each year, it’s an honor to celebrate the success of our CAES graduates,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick T. Place. “It’s amazing what these students accomplish during their time with us, and I’m always excited to commemorate this next step in their lives as they continue on to either further studies or the start of their careers.”
A student harvests red clover at UGArden. CAES News
UGA horticulture class shows students the science behind herbal remedies 04/16/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
The field of medicine is ever-changing, and the use of herbal medicines may play a bigger role in health care as the value of natural remedies gain recognition in the Western world. Students at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are delving into the field of medicinal remedies through the class “Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants.” Offered to undergraduate students through the Department of Horticulture, the class helps students develop a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and health.
Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms CAES News
Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms 04/15/24 David Mitchell
During the pandemic, labor problems became acute on many farms in Georgia and across the country. Farms once staffed by humans to bring produce from the field to stores for purchase were suddenly short-staffed, and the global supply chain was severely impacted. Working with UGA’s Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center and A&M Farms in Lyons, Georgia, a team of researchers led by School of Computing Professor Prashant Doshi is designing collaborative robots to mitigate some of these potential challenges.
2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate who went on to earn a master’s degree in 1982 and education specialist degree in 1984 from UGA’s College of Education. CAES News
Innovator, educator inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame 04/11/24 Maria M. Lameiras
An innovator in peanut breeding whose research revitalized an industry and an ardent champion of agricultural education were inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame at the 68th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association Awards in Athens. The 2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate.
Peach growers are looking forward to a fruitful season as the weather this winter and spring have been near-perfect for the sensitive crop. This year is projected to be a much-needed comeback from the disastrous season they experienced after a late freeze in March 2023 took out more than 90% of the state's crop. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA) CAES News
Growers hopeful 2024 peach season will rebound from disastrous 2023 04/10/24 Emily Cabrera
Last year, the peach industry lost $60 million due to the late freeze that hit much of the Southeast in mid-March 2023, said Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent for Peach and Taylor counties. With no freezing temperatures in the forecast and hope for strong pricing during the upcoming season, peach growers are looking forward to a much-needed rebound year.