The U.S. egg industry has experienced unprecedented losses due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak. Over 20 million egg-laying chickens died last quarter, making it the worst toll since the outbreak began, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The deaths include birds culled when infections were detected in flocks. These losses have contributed significantly to soaring egg prices.
Impact on Poultry Production Systems
The USDA reports that all major production systems — conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic — have been severely impacted. To mitigate the spread of the virus, the USDA compensates farmers for the birds and eggs they must cull, with over $1.25 billion in payments made since the outbreak began in 2022.
Winter and Bird Flu: A Deadly Combination
Bird flu cases typically surge during winter as migratory wild birds, which carry the virus, fly south. The virus thrives in colder months when reduced heat and sunlight allow it to persist longer on surfaces. This winter, however, has seen an unusual twist: the virus has spilled over into dairy herds, infecting hundreds of herds through contaminated raw milk, workers’ clothing, and shared equipment.
California has been particularly affected, prompting the state to declare a state of emergency to address the crisis.
Human Cases and Risk
Despite the widespread devastation in poultry, human cases of bird flu remain rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed only 66 cases in the U.S., most of which were mild. These cases primarily involved farm workers in close contact with infected animals. Researchers believe the current bird flu strain has mutated to be less severe in humans compared to other variants.
Vaccination Efforts
The USDA is preparing a new stockpile of poultry vaccines targeting the D1.1 strain, which has been responsible for a recent fatal human case in Louisiana. However, officials remain cautious about implementing widespread vaccination for poultry due to concerns over hidden symptoms, which could complicate disease detection and lead to export restrictions. Testing of vaccines for cows, deemed more feasible, is also underway.
Risks in the Animal Food Supply Chain
The bird flu outbreak has also impacted the animal food supply chain. Contaminated raw pet food made from infected animals was linked to outbreaks that killed cats in California and Oregon. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged the animal food industry to adopt stricter measures, such as heat treatments and avoiding the use of infected animals, to curb the virus’s spread.
Conclusion
The bird flu outbreak continues to pose significant challenges to the U.S. poultry industry, with far-reaching consequences for egg supply, food prices, and animal health. While human infections remain rare and mild, ongoing efforts to control the virus, including potential vaccination strategies, are critical to mitigating its impact.
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