a serious bird flu outbreak has devastated American poultry farms, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 million egg-laying hens in the last quarter alone. This is the worst impact on the US egg supply since the outbreak began in 2022, causing egg prices to rise significantly across the country.

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), these losses include both chickens killed by the virus and those killed to prevent its spread. A USDA report published Jan. 10 revealed that egg prices are skyrocketing across all production systems, including conventional, cage-free and organic.

To ease the crisis, the federal government has allocated $1.25 billion to compensate farmers for their losses. The funding is aimed at encouraging prompt reporting of infections and preventing the spread of the virus.

Why are bird flu cases increasing?

Bird flu cases typically increase in winter as migratory wild birds carry the virus southward. Colder temperatures promote the spread of the virus, leading to outbreaks beyond poultry farms and into dairy herds. Hundreds of infected herds have been traced to contaminated raw milk, spread through farmers’ clothing, equipment and shared animals.

California has been particularly hard hit, leading the state to declare a state of emergency.

human and pet infections

While this outbreak has caused huge losses to poultry, human cases are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported only 66 human infections in the US since the virus first emerged. Most cases were mild and occurred in farm workers who had close contact with infected animals.

However, a recent fatal case in Louisiana involving the D1.1 strain of the virus has raised concerns. Despite this, researchers believe that the strain responsible for human infections has become less severe than other circulating strains.

This virus has also affected pets. In separate incidents in California and Oregon, cats died after eating raw pet food made from infected animals. A spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that the infected cats had eaten pet food made from wild birds, unpasteurized milk, raw chicken or raw chicken.

symptoms to look for

Symptoms of Bird Flu Varies between humans but may include:

– fever and chills

– cough and sore throat

– Tiredness

– muscle pain

– difficulty breathing

– Eye redness (conjunctivitis)

– Severe cases: If the case is very severe, it can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

vaccination plans

The USDA has announced plans to stockpile a poultry vaccine targeting the D1.1 strain. However, widespread vaccination is unlikely due to concerns that it could mask symptoms, complicating efforts to identify and contain outbreaks. Additionally, widespread vaccination could disrupt international poultry exports.

Bird flu outbreaks continue to put pressure on U.S. poultry farms, disrupting supply chains and driving up egg prices. While human infection is limited, continued surveillance, preventive measures, and research are essential to combat the crisis and minimize its impact on public health and the agricultural industry.

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