The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, A/H5N1) continues to spread. From culling and sickness, an estimated 134 million poultry—mostly chickens—have died since the latest outbreak was identified a year ago in February 2024. Since October 2024, farmers have lost 36 million egg-laying hens, meaning farmers have lost about 12% of their flock in just four months. In January alone, farmers have lost 14.7 million hens. The virus continues to spread in dairy herds as well.
Egg prices are soaring. A year ago, a consumer would pay in the range of $2.50 per dozen, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Today, prices can reach well over $7.00, even above $9.00. There are shortages, and restrictions on how many a consumer can buy at a time.
Chicken meat is also affected. A USDA report in January noted, “Unlike in past years, in 2024, all major production systems”—family owned, large or small-scale commercial flocks; huge corporate factory flocks; egg-hens and broilers—“experienced significant losses including conventional caged, cage-free, and certified organic types,” reported CBS News on Jan. 13.
The current response protocol is that once the virus is found in the flock, it is destroyed. A federal program exists to pay producers for the eggs and poultry lost, but this does not make up for the damage. Farmers are facing bankruptcy, as reviewed by the industry news site Investigate Midwest.