Economic analyses from USDA or major financial news outlets

US Reports First H5N9 Bird Flu Outbreak in Poultry Amid 20% Egg Price Surge, UK Confirms Human Case

Jan 26, 2025, 03:14 PM

The United States has reported its first outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N9 bird flu strain in poultry, detected at a duck farm in California. This development adds to the ongoing bird flu crisis, which has already led to significant egg shortages and price increases across the country. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported that egg prices are expected to rise by about 20% in 2025, driven by the avian flu outbreak and broader inflationary pressures. The outbreak has resulted in the death of over 20 million egg-laying hens in the last quarter of 2024, including 17.2 million in November and December, contributing to a tighter egg supply. The average price of a dozen large, grade-A eggs was $4.15 in December, up from $3.65 in November. In the UK, the first human case of bird flu has been confirmed in England, with the individual having had close and prolonged contact with infected birds on a farm in the West Midlands region. The birds were infected with the DI.2 genotype. This case is part of a broader national outbreak among animals, prompting stringent biosecurity measures across England and Scotland.