If you have noticed the shocking rise of egg and chicken prices lately, the problem is not merely inflation: Bird flu is back.
Since start of the outbreak in February 2022, about 27 million farmed birds have been killed to stop the spread, according to CNET. This leads to a shortage of eggs, which drives up egg prices. According to the USDA, the price of a dozen eggs was about $1 in November 2021. The price in April was about $3.
The outbreak has affected prices much more dramatically than the last outbreak in 2015. The lack of bird and egg supply plus an inflation rate of 8.5 percent have contributed to widespread price increases for every commodity that uses egg or chicken. That would be baked goods, processed foods and things like salad dressing.
For wild birds, the toll has also been high, with at least 36 bald eagles dying of the disease. There has also been a nationwide toll on hawks, geese, owls, herons and cormorants.
