Overview
- The ongoing bird flu outbreak has killed over 150 million birds in the U.S. since 2022, with 30 million deaths occurring in just the first six weeks of 2025.
- Farmers have implemented costly biosecurity measures, but the virus continues to spread, affecting poultry, wild birds, mammals, and even humans, with 68 human cases and one death confirmed so far.
- Experts and farmers are increasingly advocating for poultry vaccinations, a strategy already used in countries like China and France, despite concerns about trade restrictions and asymptomatic infections.
- Egg shortages and production losses have driven prices up by 53% year-over-year, with grocery stores and restaurants imposing purchase limits and surcharges to manage supply issues.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture has spent $1.8 billion addressing the outbreak, but farmers warn that without new solutions, the crisis will persist and further strain the industry.