The average price of a dozen large, Grade A eggs has jumped 65 percent in 2024, with the US Department of Agriculture predicting prices will rise another 20 percent this year. The bird flu outbreak that started in 2022 is largely to blame for these high prices.
According to livestock economist David Anderson at Texas A&M University, the current prices are all-time record highs. The outbreak has led to the slaughter of over 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds, with most being egg-laying chickens. This sudden shock to the system has dwarfed long-term trends and increasing demand for eggs.
Virologist Angela Rasmussen at the University of Saskatchewan notes that multiple strains of bird flu are currently circulating in wild birds and dairy cattle, leading to flock outbreaks and human cases. However, the risk to humans remains low, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.
To bring prices down, Anderson says the disease must be controlled, and time is needed to rebuild flocks. It takes approximately 26 weeks for a hen to grow and start laying eggs, with larger ones taking longer. Volatile egg prices are volatile, but with enough time, lower prices can be expected.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-a-deadly-strain-of-bird-flu-is-making-egg-prices-soar-nationwide