As cases of bird flu continue to climb among wild birds, poultry and cattle in the U.S., the virus poses an increasing threat to human health.

A total of 67 human cases of the H5N1 virus have been reported in the U.S. as of Feb. 3, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. The only U.S. death associated with the virus remains an elderly Louisiana patient who died in January after being exposed to a combination of wild birds and a non-commercial backyard flock of poultry, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

As the virus continues to circulate around the country, the effects are being felt economically, including a sharp rise in poultry and egg prices.

Hereโ€™s what you need to know about bird flu and the threat it poses to public health.

What Is Bird Flu?

Bird flu, which is also referred to as H5N1 or highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is a disease caused by the influenza type A virus that primarily spreads among birds.

H5N1 is a subtype of influenza A virus that has been reported in cows and other animals, as well as humans. In humans, the virus usually causes mild to moderate symptoms, including eye infection and upper respiratory symptoms, but can develop into severe illness and death.

Though H5N1 has fueled much of the current bird flu outbreak, it is not the only bird flu strain that has been confirmed in the U.S.

A strain of bird flu called H5N9 was detected at a duck farm in California in January, marking the first outbreak of that strain reported in poultry in the U.S., according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

In early 2025, the Department of Agriculture confirmed that a second version of H5N1 known as D1.1 โ€“ which is distinct from the version that emerged last year, known as B3.13 โ€“ had been detected in cows in Nevada, marking the first cases of that genotype in U.S. dairy cattle.

Whatโ€™s Happening With H5N1?

The current outbreak of the virus in the U.S. dates back to March 2024, when it was detected in dairy cows. More than 950 cases of H5N1 have been confirmed in U.S. cattle since then, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

As bird flu spread among dairy herds โ€“ and in some cases was detected in raw milk โ€“ the USDA in December mandated the testing of all raw, unpasteurized milk for the virus.

A USDA spokeswoman confirmed to U.S. News via email that the program will continue under the Trump administration.

How Is Bird Flu Impacting Egg Prices?

A series of reported outbreaks at some of the largest egg producers in the U.S. have caused a shortage in egg supplies, as infected flocks are typically culled to reduce the risk of transmission. Bird flu outbreaks are estimated to have reduced the U.S. poultry population by more than 147 million since 2022.

The USDA estimates the outbreak will contribute to a 20% increase in the price of eggs in 2025, compared with about 2.2% for overall food prices. The price of farm-level eggs, or eggs from pasture-raised or free-range chickens, is projected to rise by 45% compared to last year.

The average price for a dozen large, grade-A eggs in the average U.S. city was $4.15 in December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics โ€“ a bump from $3.65 in November. The average price of eggs in December was more than 38% higher than in March 2024, the month when the first cases of the outbreak were reported.

The restaurant industry has started feeling the economic impact. Restaurant chain Waffle House announced in February it would add a 50-cent surcharge per egg to customer orders, owing to the โ€œcontinuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (bird flu).โ€



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