Bird Flu Hits Farms: Egg Prices Brace for Impact

Avian influenza is currently affecting commercial poultry farms across the nation, with over 7.1 million birds lost in Pennsylvania alone, primarily at egg-laying facilities in Lancaster County. This surge in cases, which began earlier this year, has led to fears of rising egg prices, even though wholesale costs have recently fallen.

While current lower prices are attributed to an oversupply from the winter, experts predict this situation will not last. The ongoing risk of bird flu, exacerbated by the beginning of bird migration season, suggests that supply could tighten sooner than anticipated. The spread of the virus is primarily linked to contact with infected wild birds or indirect transmission through personnel and equipment. Officials are urging the public to avoid contact with dead wild birds, as numerous bird deaths have been reported in several states.