Bird Flu Causes Concerns in the United States

Bird flu is now causing alarm not only in India but also in the United States. While in India, concerns over bird flu have led to a sharp decline in chicken and egg sales, in the U.S., the outbreak has resulted in a significant rise in egg prices.

Eggs are considered a major source of protein in the United States, leading to consistently high demand. However, the spread of bird flu has led to the deaths of a large number of egg-laying hens, drastically reducing their population. This decline in supply has directly impacted egg production, causing prices to surge.

In some regions of the United States, the price of a dozen eggs has skyrocketed to $10 (approximately ₹867), illustrating the severity of the situation. Egg prices in the country have been rising since January last year, increasing by as much as 65% over this period. Due to the drop in production, some supermarkets have imposed restrictions on the number of eggs customers can purchase.

Avian influenza (bird flu) spreads rapidly among chickens. In an effort to curb its spread, authorities have been culling millions of infected birds. Studies have indicated that the impact of bird flu is more severe on free-range, domestically raised chickens compared to those raised in commercial farms.