Bird flu in 2025: How it affects egg prices and what you need to know
The virus has devastated poultry flocks, leading to a decline in supply and increased egg costs
The current outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in the United States has caused concern among scientists, public health officials and lawmakers. Recent studies and reports show that the virus has spread further than originally thought, with undetected cases in livestock and humans. Also, possible policy errors by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) during this outbreak have been pointed out, and an increase in food prices, especially eggs, has been reported.
Undetected spread between cows and humans
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a study showing that human infections related to livestock exposure may have gone undetected. Researchers tested 150 veterinarians who had worked with cattle and found that three had antibodies to the H5N1 virus despite not recalling any symptoms. This finding suggests that asymptomatic infections have occurred and may be more widespread than current surveillance captures.
The study also raised alerts about surveillance shortcomings, as one of the infected veterinarians had worked in Georgia and South Carolina, which are states where infections in cattle had not been officially reported. This discrepancy indicates that there may be infected cows in States where no cases have been documented, showing the urgent need for improved traceback methods. Scientists fear that if the H5N1 virus acquires the ability to transmit effectively between humans, control of the outbreak could become increasingly difficult.
USDA layoffs
USDA has come under fire after mistakenly firing several officials involved in the federal response to the bird flu. Now, the agency is attempting to reverse those dismissals, though the incident reflects broader concerns about federal oversight. The cuts, pushed by the Trump administration in its effort to reduce the size of government, have raised alarm among scientists and lawmakers, who warn that these measures could affect the country’s ability to contain the outbreak.
Among those laid off are employees of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, a key component in animal disease surveillance and response. Experts warn that these disruptions could weaken the country’s ability to track and mitigate bird flu transmission, especially as new cases emerge in unexpected places. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concern about the repercussions of the layoffs, with some arguing that policy decisions should be based on scientific assessments rather than political expediency.
Egg prices
One of the most tangible effects of the bird flu outbreak has been the rise in egg prices. The virus has devastated poultry flocks, leading to a decrease in supply and a corresponding increase in costs. According to the latest USDA data, 151 confirmed flocks have been affected, with a total of approximately 23 million birds lost to the virus.
Consumers have noticed the change in the marketplace, where egg prices have skyrocketed due to the supply disruption. Although egg prices were already high due to previous inflationary effects, the bird flu outbreak has exacerbated the problem. Lawmakers on the House Agriculture Committee have reported hearing from constituents frustrated by price hikes. This has prompted renewed calls to strengthen disease control strategies and increase investment in poultry health research to prevent future outbreaks and other price shocks.
Current risk
Although CDC asserts that the risk to the general population is still low, recent studies indicate that surveillance efforts are insufficient. The detection of unrecorded infections in veterinarians and the lack of comprehensive testing in some states evidence the need for more stringent monitoring in both livestock and vulnerable human populations.
Similarly, delays in the release of key data —in part due to communication restrictions by federal health agencies— have made it difficult to track the virus in real time. Scientists warn that any delay in identifying and responding to new transmission patterns could raise the risk of a wider outbreak.
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