In recent months, a deadly bird flu outbreak has had a devastating impact on U.S. chicken farms, resulting in the loss of over 20 million egg-laying chickens. This outbreak has been the most severe since it began in 2022, leading to record-high egg prices across all production types. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported that the chickens were culled to contain the virus, contributing to the significant toll on the egg supply.

The federal government has allocated $1.25 billion to compensate farmers for the chickens lost to bird flu since the outbreak began. This financial support aims to encourage farmers to report infections promptly and prevent the virus from spreading further. The USDA published a report on January 10, highlighting the impact of the outbreak on egg prices in conventional, cage-free, and certified organic systems.

The surge in bird flu cases during the winter months is attributed to migrating wild birds carrying the virus southward, with cooler weather facilitating its spread. This winter, the virus has expanded beyond poultry farms, affecting dairy herds as well. The contamination of raw milk has been linked to hundreds of infected herds, spreading through farmers’ clothing, equipment, and other animals shared between farms. The state of California has declared a state of emergency due to the severity of the outbreak.

While the bird flu outbreak has decimated poultry populations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported only 66 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. Most of these infections have been mild and occurred in farm workers who had close contact with infected animals. However, a tragic fatal case linked to the D1.1 strain of the virus was recently reported in Louisiana, which has been spreading in wild birds.

Researchers believe that the strain responsible for human infections has mutated to be less severe in humans compared to other strains found in wild birds. The USDA has announced plans to stockpile a new poultry vaccine targeting the D1.1 strain of the virus. However, concerns about widespread vaccination potentially hiding symptoms and disrupting international poultry exports have hindered its implementation.

The virus has also spread to humans and pets through contaminated products. In separate incidents, raw pet food made from infected animals led to the deaths of cats in California and Oregon. The Food and Drug Administration has emphasized that infected cats had consumed wild birds, unpasteurized milk, raw poultry, or raw poultry pet food.

Overall, the bird flu outbreak has had far-reaching consequences on both the poultry industry and public health. The USDA and other agencies continue to monitor the situation closely and work towards preventing further spread of the virus. Stay informed through reliable sources such as Phys.org for the latest updates on this evolving situation.