The avian influenza, or bird flu, has been affecting birds in the U.S. for over a year now and has caused many to become wary of the products they’re consuming. Over 300 million birds have died, with the virus having a mortality rate of 90% to 100% in only 48 hours. The bird flu is impacting the American economy, causing drastic increases in egg prices.
The bird flu has caused egg shortages across the nation, which in turn raises the price of eggs. In 2022 the average price for eggs was $2.86, and by the end of 2024 egg prices already increased to an average of $4.15. Now in 2025, eggs cost roughly $6.69 for a dozen.
One of the largest egg producers in the country, Cal-Maine Foods, had hens test positive for the bird flu and lost 1.9 million chickens. Losing 3.6% of their flock could lead to further egg price inflation.
“Any time you have an outbreak of [bird flu] in a large poultry producer like this, it has the potential to impact the market, because you’re taking a large number of egg-laying birds out of production all at once,” Amy Hagerman, a professor of agricultural economics, said in an interview with NPR.
Since the virus is so contagious, farmers have to cull the entire flock after one bird gets the bird flu, losing a significant portion of their eggs.
Most birds die before they’re able to produce contaminated eggs, so it’s highly unlikely consumers could contract the virus from eggs.
Contaminated eggs are also removed from the food supply and all eggs are washed and sanitized which removes the virus from the outside. Pasteurized eggs are the safest as the process kills the virus.
66 people have been affected by the bird flu, however most contracted it from being around the sick animals, not eating contaminated eggs.
Scientists are still determining if people can get sick from contaminated food, but the risk is low. To be safe, it’s recommended to take a few measures
“If people are using good food-handling practices and fully cooking their eggs as recommended, then the risk is extremely low,” Dr. Meghan Davis, a veterinarian and environmental epidemiologist, said in an interview with The New York Times.
Although the full effects of the bird flu on humans are unknown, eggs are still safe to eat. The main concern bird flu caused may be egg price rather than egg safety.
