Since the highly pathogenic A(H5N1) avian flu was first detected in American birds in January 2022, the price of a dozen eggs has risen from about $1.79 in December 2021 to $4.25 in December 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. . A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said those living on the El Paso border purchase eggs from Mexico because they are “significantly cheaper.”
The A(H5N1) virus has been detected in wild birds in 50 states, and outbreaks have been reported on poultry farms in 47 states. Ars Technica states that this is the longest avian flu outbreak in U.S. history, making it the deadliest with 57 million dead birds in 47 states, surpassing the previous record.
In the current outbreak, the CDC tracked more than 5,000 people who had come into contact with infected birds, but found only one case of bird flu in humans. The man had mild symptoms and recovered.
Virologists and epidemiologists fear that flu viruses, such as bird flu, may mutate and recombine into a virus that infects potentially pandemic humans.
Source: Ferra
