Texas avian flu outbreak may increase egg prices

Texas is at the epicenter of a bird flu outbreak that led the US’s largest egg producer, Cal-Maine, to halt all operations in the state. It has culled 1.9 million hens after detecting positive cases. The move could cause a potential spike in egg prices.

Eggs are already costly. In February, the average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs reached $3, an increase from $2 in the fall.

Texas State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller attributed the virus spread to migratory waterfowl contaminating poultry and dairy farms. He also warned that wild birds carrying the virus are expected to head north soon.

The situation got exacerbated as the flu made an unprecedented leap to cattle, and two humans contracted the virus, giving them the pink eye, per the state health department.

However, the CDC analysis suggests a minimal risk of human-to-human transmission, offering a modicum of reassurance.

Theoretically, milk from infected cows poses a risk, but pasteurization should render it safe.

The USDA reported additional cases of avian influenza in New Mexico, Michigan and Idaho.

So far, the disease has not spread like in 2023, when the country witnessed the worst avian flu outbreak, which wiped out 50.54 million birds.