UK Government and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announcements

H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak Causes Egg Shortages, Prices Surge Up to 37% in U.S., UK Implements Prevention Zones

Jan 25, 2025, 06:43 PM

The ongoing bird flu outbreak, specifically the H5N1 virus, has led to significant impacts on poultry farms across the United States and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the outbreak has forced the culling of over 100,000 ducks at Long Island's last commercial duck farm, which is now under investigation. The virus has also resulted in a severe egg shortage, with egg prices rising sharply; consumers are facing a 37% increase from a year ago, with some areas reporting prices as high as $7.88 for a dozen eggs by the end of 2025. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates egg prices to increase about 20% in 2025, driven by the avian flu outbreak and general inflation. Since 2022, over 136 million birds have been affected, with 30 million chickens killed in the last three months alone. In the UK, the government has imposed a bird flu prevention zone across all of England and Scotland in response to rising cases, requiring strict biosecurity measures for all bird keepers. The outbreak has affected poultry in 28 states in the U.S.