"The H5N1 Crisis: How Bird Flu is Scrambling the Egg Market and Threatening Public Health"
- armantabesh
- Feb 7
- 4 min read
Over the past two years, a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, has devastated poultry farms across the United States. The outbreak, which began in early 2022, has resulted in the culling of millions of chickens to contain the virus, significantly reducing egg supply. Meanwhile, as egg prices continue fluctuating, concerns are growing over the Trump administration’s decision to freeze several health agency reports, potentially affecting transparency on public health issues.
The Bird Flu’s Devastation on Poultry and Egg Production
The current wave of bird flu has infected over 128 million birds, including wild birds, commercial poultry, and backyard flocks. Additionally, since December, 13 million hens have either been killed by the flu or culled. This virus is highly contagious, and once detected in a farm, entire flocks must be killed to prevent further spread. The losses of so many hens have significantly impacted egg production and have led to a sharp price spike across the country.
Soaring Egg Prices in 2024 and Early 2025
The impact of bird flu on egg prices has been drastic. In November 2024, the average retail price for a dozen eggs surged past $3.60. This is a wild jump from $1.10 per dozen in January 2024. In the week ending Jan. 18, a dozen eggs cost $5.29.
Additional Factors Driving Up Prices
While bird flu is a major factor, other economic pressures have also contributed to rising egg prices. The high, inflationary costs for fuel, labor, transportation, and packaging have played a role. Additionally, ten states enforce laws that require all eggs sold within their borders to come from cage-free production systems – a positive in terms of animal welfare but another reason for jacked up supply and cost for eggs.
How Has the Bird Flu Impacted Farmers?
Farmers have been among the hardest hit by the ongoing bird flu outbreak, facing significant financial losses and operational challenges. The outbreak has forced large-scale egg producers to cull a substantial amount of their livestock to prevent rapid spread of the virus. For example, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, one of the largest egg producers in the U.S., had to cull 6.5 million birds, a devastating loss that has disrupted both production and employment. Rebuilding flocks takes months, leaving farms with significantly reduced output and revenue during the recovery period.The crisis has also sparked debates over vaccination. While some countries, including China, Egypt, France, have already implemented poultry vaccination programs, the U.S. has hesitated due to concerns over international trade. Since the vaccine is meant to lower the severity of the flu in poultry, it could potentially conceal its symptoms and bring the virus abroad. The vaccine also acts as a tool to reduce human infection while limiting the chances of the virus mutating to become more adaptive for humans. And with 66 human bird flu cases since last March, the first human death from bird flu occurring in early January 2025, people are becoming more wary about the bird flu’s impact on humans.
Can the Bird Flu Harm Humans?
Yes, but the risk to the general public remains low. This current H5N1 strain of bird flu can infect humans, but primarily through direct contact with infected animals or their fluids, such as saliva, mucus, feces, and even unpasteurized milk. Make sure to avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead poultry or other livestock. Human-to-human transmission has not been observed so far but there is always a chance the virus may evolve to transmit more easily among humans.
Are Other Animals Affected?
This strand of bird flu has impacted a wide range of animals beyond poultry. In addition to the thousands of wild birds, including geese, shorebirds, and raptors, found dead across the U.S., the virus has spread to various mammal species. Infections with dairy cattle have now hit the United States. Other mammals, such as polar bears, dolphins, foxes, skunks, seals, and raccoons, have also been found with the virus, often showing some neurological symptoms before death. Additionally, the virus has been detected in domestic cats, likely due to exposure to infected birds or raw poultry diets.
What makes this outbreak unprecedented is its nationwide spread. H5N1 has now been detected in all 50 states, making it the largest and longest-running bird flu outbreak in U.S. history. Unlike past outbreaks that usually are contained in poultry farms, this strain has shown a greater ability to infect wildlife and livestock, creating some concern over the virus’s adaptability and potential long-term threats. Furthermore, the ongoing spread of the bird flu poses a severe threat to international biodiversity, as migratory birds are transmitting the virus globally.
This ongoing H5N1 outbreak has had devastating consequences for poultry farms, egg prices, and even wildlife, making it one of the most widespread animal disease outbreaks in U.S. history. While the risk to humans remains low, the possibility of mutation and broader transmission cannot be ignored. As scientists and officials work to contain the outbreak, debates have been reignited over the pros and cons of bird vaccination. Some worry about trade restrictions while others see it as a necessary tool to limit further spread. With egg prices still soaring, consumers might be wishing for a “crack” in the egg crisis, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be happening anytime soon.
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