
Residents across northwest Georgia may begin noticing low-flying aircraft this month as the U.S. Department of Agriculture moves ahead with its annual oral rabies vaccination campaign, including bait distribution in Chattooga County.

Residents across northwest Georgia may begin noticing low-flying aircraft this month as the U.S. Department of Agriculture moves ahead with its annual oral rabies vaccination campaign, including bait distribution in Chattooga County.

Livestock owners in Chattooga County and across Georgia are being urged to stay alert as the Georgia Department of Agriculture has reinstated enhanced animal-entry requirements following another detection of New World screwworm in New Mexico.

Residents in Chattooga County can expect to see low-flying aircraft again this fall as the U.S. Department of Agriculture prepares for another oral rabies vaccine bait distribution across Northwest Georgia in October.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture is urging livestock producers, veterinarians and pet owners to remain alert for signs of the destructive New World Screwworm, even though no cases have been confirmed in Georgia.

Georgia agriculture officials have expanded animal entry requirements following the detection of New World screwworm in the United States, a livestock pest that was eradicated from the country decades ago.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization for nitenpyram, a medication used to treat New World screwworm infestations in dogs and cats. The action marks the first approval of a generic animal drug specifically authorized for use against the flesh-eating parasite.

With temperatures climbing into the 90s and heat index values approaching 100 degrees across Chattooga County and Northwest Georgia, animal owners are being reminded to take extra precautions to protect pets and livestock from dangerous heat-related illnesses.

Livestock producers are being urged to stay alert following the recent confirmation of a New World screwworm case in the United States.
The USDA confirmed New World screwworm in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, on June 3. The CDC says no locally acquired human infestations have been reported in the United States, but the outbreak has been moving northward through Central America and Mexico since 2023, affecting livestock, pets, wildlife, and people.
New World screwworm is a serious pest that can infest wounds in warm-blooded animals. Because of the potential risk to livestock and agriculture, the USDA has released preparedness resources for producers, including current status updates, a U.S. response plan, fact sheets, field identification guides, and additional response materials.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says it also plans to release simplified resources in the coming weeks to help producers better understand the USDA response playbook.
Producers are encouraged to review USDA materials and monitor livestock closely for suspicious wounds or signs of infestation.

The Walker County Animal Shelter will be closed for at least 30 days after a litter of surrendered puppies tested positive for canine distemper virus.

Agriculture and animal health officials in Georgia and Alabama are urging livestock owners, pet owners, and outdoor enthusiasts to be on alert after the Asian Longhorned Tick was confirmed in multiple counties across the region.