Egg Prices May Raise Over 40% in 2024 Because of Avian Flu

Your grits and eggs will soon cost more at your favorite cafe because eggs are going up again.

In February, the national cost of a dozen grade-A eggs was $3, up from $2 in the fall.

Avian flu may be to blame for the 33% increase in the price of eggs in under six months. In January 2023, egg prices rose to $4.32 a dozen after a severe flu outbreak was reported.

This was the highest price consumers were ever asked to pay for eggs as of 2024. During the severe avian flu outbreak in 2022, egg prices rose 41%.

If this trend happens this time, egg prices could rise to new record highs.

What is Avian Flu?

Avian flu, also called bird flu, is a virus that can be transmitted between birds, from birds to other animals, from animal to animal, or from affected animals or birds to humans.

Like other viruses, it has different strains as it keeps mutating.

Avian flu has been around for more than 100 years. It was first reported in Italy in 1878. It could have already been around for hundreds of years in Italy at that point.

They further believe that an itinerant bird merchant took infected birds to Austria, Germany, Belgium and France by 1901 There can be almost a 100% mortality rate from bird flu.

Often, death occurs before raisers know that their flock has been affected.

Those who do see signs may notice:

• Decreased food or water consumption • Respiratory difficulties • Misshapen or fewer eggs • Lethargy • Swollen heads • Purple legs

There are two strains of avian flu, each with several mutations. The first one is a low-pathogenicity strain, which poses little danger.

The second one is a highly pathogenic form, and this one has at least seven mutations. Regardless, most birds with highly pathogenic avian flu die within 48 hours.

Is There a Cure for Avian Flu in Chickens?

There is no cure for avian flu in chickens. To prevent its spread, chicken raisers must kill their entire flock. As of March 31, 2024, over 23 million birds have been killed in numerous states.

On April 2, 2024, Cal-Maine, the largest supplier of eggs in the country, announced that they were culling their birds at their Palmer County, Texas, facility because of avian flu.

They will destroy more than 1.6 million hens and over 337,000 pullets. This represents 3.6% of the company's total chickens.

Can Avian Flu Be Transmitted to Other Animals?

Avian flu can be transmitted to other animals. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, dairy cows in seven dairy herds in Texas, two in Kansas, one in Michigan, one in New Mexico, and one in Idaho had tested positive for bird flu.

So far, farmers have not been asked to cull cattle with avian flu. Most recover in two to three weeks with veterinarian care. The cows were first suspected of having avian flu after losing their appetite and producing less milk.

The United States Department of Agriculture, Center for Disease Control and the Federal Drug Administration say there is no threat to public safety because the pasteurization process should kill the virus.

Three cats on a Texas dairy farm have also tested positive for avian flu. Dogs, raccoons, skunks and foxes have been reported to have the disease.

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Can People Get Avian Flu?

People can get avian flu. Two people were confirmed to have it in late March, while one was identified in early April as having it in Texas after coming in close contact with cattle infected with the flu.

When people get avian flu, they usually experience mild fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Most respond positively to standard flu treatments.

In 1957, over 1.1 million people died worldwide from Asian flu, including 116,000 in the United States. Asian flu contains two genes from the avian flu and one gene from the seasonal flu.

How is Avian Flu Spread?

While scientists are still figuring out if dairy cows can pass bird flu to each other because the herd infected in Michigan had just incorporated cows from a dairy in Texas before they realized their herd had bird flu, most cases of bird flu are spread by wild birds.

When an animal encounters a living or dead animal or bird with bird flu, it can become infected.

What Can Producers Do to Protect Their Animals and Themselves?

Even if they raise a small flock of chickens, producers should take steps to protect their animals. Only let people who are caring for the animals near them. Keep a logbook of each person who is near your animals.

Everyone who touches an animal should wash their hands as soon as possible. This helps to keep the chances of you getting sick at a minimum. It also helps stop the spread of germs from one person to the next.

Use bird deterrents to minimize contact between domestic and wild birds. Remember that wild birds can carry the disease without showing any signs of being sick.

Quarantine any animals you purchase away from your current ones for a month. This helps protect your current animals in case the new animal is an asymptomatic carrier.

Test animals before and after moving them. A simple swab may be available from your veterinarian to detect if your animals are infected.

Avian flu may raise egg prices at a store near you this year. A significant egg producer has detected the disease in their flock in Texas.

In numerous states, avian flu has been detected in dairy herds. Government officials say there is no danger in consuming eggs, pasteurized milk, or milk products.

However, humans can be infected with the flu if they encounter infected animals. Up to 1.1 million people died in 1959 when avian flu mixed with seasonal flu to create Asian flu.