The Impact of Bird Flu on Egg Prices

The ongoing avian flu outbreak, specifically the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has severely affected egg production, leading to skyrocketing prices. This strain has a mortality rate of nearly 90-94% among infected birds, resulting in the loss of millions of laying hens from the market. As of early 2025, about 30 million birds have been impacted, contributing to a dramatic reduction in egg supply. This shortage has prompted some restaurants to impose additional surcharges for eggs, illustrating how tightly intertwined supply and demand dynamics are in this market.