California health officials have confirmed a new case of bird flu in a human, bringing the total number of cases to 37 in the state. The latest case was reported in Los Angeles County and involved a person who was exposed to infected livestock at a worksite.
The California Department of Public Health has stated that the risk of bird flu to the public remains low, but people in specific jobs, such as farmworkers, are at higher risk of getting infected. This is part of a larger outbreak that has affected thousands of birds across the state, with over 650 dairy farms and poultry infected since the disease was first detected earlier this year.
The bird flu outbreak has also had an impact on egg prices, which have risen sharply due to supply chain disruptions caused by the outbreak. According to the USDA, over 7 million table egg-laying birds in California were lost to the outbreak and facility fires since January, leading to a surge in demand for eggs during the holiday season.
Industry experts say that the national supply of eggs is “tighter” than usual due to the bird flu outbreak, driving up wholesale prices. The American Egg Board’s director of integrated communications, Marc Dresner, notes that egg prices are driven by supply and demand, but the current shortage has led to a significant increase in prices.
The state of California has declared a state of emergency to combat the bird flu outbreak, which has had far-reaching impacts on the poultry industry and the economy. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how long the outbreak will last and what impact it will have on egg prices and the broader economy.
Source: https://eu.desertsun.com/story/news/nation/california/2024/12/24/new-human-bird-flu-case-la-comes-expensive-eggs/77200147007