How do you like your eggs? Scrambled? Sunny side up? How about no eggs at all? The United States is currently facing an egg crisis at the moment as egg prices are rapidly rising (in most cases more than double), or gone from the shelves completely. Grocery stores are struggling to keep eggs in stock because of the bird flu outbreak across poultry and dairy farms. For the most part, it is affecting egg-laying chickens and dairy cows. The disease to blame is called “Avian Influenza A” or H5N1, which is commonly known as the Bird Flu. So, if you like food, eggs are in almost everything.
What is the bird flu and where did it come from?
To put it simply, the bird flu is influenza for the avian species. It’s a viral respiratory infection that spreads among farm animals, most particularly chickens. The disease that is currently taking our eggs away is called H5 Avian Flu and it has killed more than 160 million birds in 51 states. H5 can also spread to other animals like dairy cows, domesticated pets like dogs and cats, and it can even spread to humans.
Are we at risk for the bird flu?
People can get infected with the bird flu if they are in contact with an infected animal. As of now, farm workers are most at risk. So, if you happen to be handling any farm animals, be sure to take precautions like sanitizing materials that birds may have come in contact with as the disease can also spread through surfaces. Wash your hands and sanitize your boots before and after you come into contact with chickens or any kind of farm animal. Currently, most cases are found in those who work with chickens, so there should be no worries for humans who don’t work with farm animals. Also, take note that there is no evidence for the bird flu to spread with human-to-human contact, so we should not worry about any upcoming pandemic of the bird flu. If you’re ever concerned about whether or not you have contracted the bird flu, be aware that there are symptoms to look out for, such as pink eye, fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose, and shortness of breath. It is very similar to the flu. Just be sure to fully cook your poultry and avoid eating undercooked eggs.
Egg prices are too high, will they get better?
Many of us would go for an egg or two to start off the day as it is a good source of protein and vitamins. However, egg prices are rapidly increasing causing people to take eggs off their grocery lists. In some cases, eggs won’t even be found on shelves as the bird flu progresses. The scarcity of eggs has even made most restaurants upcharge their prices. As of February 21st, 2025, the average price of a dozen eggs has increased up to $9.68, when a dozen eggs used to be less than $4.00 dollars just a couple months ago. The good news is that the USDA has stated that egg prices may get better soon in April 2025, returning to the normal prices we are used to, which is a big relief.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22401-bird-flu
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bird-flu-2025-symptoms-eggs-humans/
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/bro-protect-poultry-from-ai.pdf
Picture Source:https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/eggs-meat/egg-carton-labels-misleading/
