US egg prices soar to yearly high amid bird flu, holiday demand

Sacramento (The Uttam Hindu): US egg prices have surged to their highest levels this year, driven by widespread bird flu outbreaks and increased holiday season demand. National wholesale prices for large eggs reached ₹338 per dozen (4.07 USD) on Friday, a significant rise from ₹91 per dozen (1.10 USD) earlier this year, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The spike is largely due to the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has severely affected commercial egg-laying flocks. The rise in prices has been most notable in coastal states like California and New York. In 2024 alone, the industry has faced devastating losses, with 36.8 million table egg-laying hens lost across 12 states due to bird flu outbreaks and facility fires, as reported by the USDA and Xinhua news agency.

The timing of these losses has made the situation particularly alarming. Since November 1, 38 percent of total losses have occurred, with an additional 28 percent in December, coinciding with the peak holiday demand for eggs. This period typically sees increased usage of eggs for baking and cooking. The USDA explained that demand has surged as consumers finalized their holiday preparations, further straining an already limited supply chain. Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to address the outbreak of Avian influenza A (H5N1), which has infected 34 people in the state. This decision came as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, prompting the need for enhanced monitoring and a coordinated statewide response to contain the virus's spread.

The H5N1 virus has now been detected in 16 states, with initial cases reported in Texas and Kansas in March 2024. Despite the alarming spread, no human-to-human transmission has been reported so far, and nearly all infected individuals had direct contact with infected cattle. Bird flu was first identified in wild birds in the US in South Carolina in January 2022 and later in California in July 2022. The rising egg prices and the challenges posed by the bird flu outbreak have added significant strain to both consumers and the poultry industry as authorities work to manage the crisis.