Avian Flu Decimating Georgia's Black Vultures

Researchers warn the virus could spread to other species and pose human health risks

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Avian flu is killing off black vultures in Georgia at an alarming rate, with nearly 85% of 113 deceased birds collected across the Southeast found to have died from the highly pathogenic virus. Researchers say the scavenger species could serve as an indicator of the virus' continued circulation, raising concerns that it may evolve to infect humans and trigger a major outbreak.

Why it matters

Black vultures play a crucial role in the ecosystem by quickly removing animal carcasses, but their mass deaths could disrupt the natural balance and expose more animals, pets, and potentially humans to disease. The avian flu outbreak also highlights the need for vigilant monitoring of wildlife populations as potential harbingers of zoonotic diseases.

The details

Pathologist Nicole Nemeth at the University of Georgia has been studying the impact of avian flu on black vultures, finding that the virus is destroying their digestive systems and causing distinct lesions on their organs. The highly contagious nature of the virus, which can spread through vultures' feces and contaminate waterways, has led to rapid transmission within the species as they feed on infected carcasses together. Nemeth warns that the virus could also jump to other predatory birds like eagles, as well as livestock like poultry and cattle, potentially posing a threat to human health.

  • Since the avian flu arrived in North America in 2021, the black vulture population has been devastated.
  • From 2022 to 2023, Nemeth's study found that nearly 85% of 113 deceased black vultures collected across seven southeastern states died from the virus.
  • In the last four to five months, Nemeth says the deaths have been 'almost nonstop'.

The players

Nicole Nemeth

A pathologist at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine who has been studying the impact of avian flu on black vultures.

Center for Disease Control

The U.S. government agency that has reported 71 human cases and two deaths related to avian flu exposure since 2024, mostly from dairy cattle herds or poultry farms.

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What they’re saying

“Black vultures could serve as an indicator species, they can tell us when these viruses are still circulating. There is a worry that these viruses will change enough to infect humans and create a huge human outbreak.”

— Nicole Nemeth, Pathologist (savannahnow.com)

What’s next

Researchers will continue monitoring the black vulture population and testing for signs that the avian flu virus is evolving to potentially infect humans on a larger scale.

The takeaway

The devastating impact of avian flu on Georgia's black vulture population serves as an early warning sign of the virus' continued circulation and potential to adapt and spread to other species, including humans. Vigilant wildlife monitoring is crucial to get ahead of future zoonotic disease outbreaks.