The US egg industry is facing its worst bird flu outbreak on record, with over 20 million chickens dying in the last quarter due to the virus. The Department of Agriculture reports that conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic systems have all been affected, resulting in significant losses.
US taxpayers will cover the cost of the lost birds, as a USDA program pays farmers for culled eggs and poultry. Last year, the agency spent $1.25 billion on payments to farmers since the outbreak began in 2022.
Experts attribute the surge in bird flu cases to migrating wild birds spreading the virus during winter months when it’s easier to spread due to cooler temperatures and less sunlight degrading the virus. The recent emergence of a different strain affecting dairy herds has added to the crisis, with authorities suspecting contaminated raw milk as a transmission route.
California has been particularly hard hit, prompting the state to declare an emergency to combat the outbreak. Unlike seasonal flu cases, which can cause mild symptoms in humans, bird flu often results in severe disease.
The USDA is preparing a new stockpile of poultry vaccines targeting the D1.1 strain, but officials believe it may not be used due to concerns about hiding symptoms and potential export restrictions. In contrast, vaccinating cows for bird flu appears more feasible and likely successful.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/egg-industry-chicken-deaths-bird-flu