Egg prices are surging in the U.S., and it’s because of a deadly...

Egg prices are surging in the U.S., and it’s because of a deadly outbreak—but not the one you think.

The wholesale price of a dozen eggs cost less than $2 on average just four months ago. But according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week, a carton of 12 eggs today costs $2.95, and that’s on the rise. Overall, the average weekly price of large eggs is up 44% compared to last year, according to the USDA.

The reason? A massive avian flu outbreak has spread through the U.S. poultry population since January. Over the past few months, nearly 27 million chickens and turkeys have been affected by the influenza, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness, which leads to respiratory issues, swelling, and rapid death in poultry, has been reported in more than 30 states, the USDA says.

The avian flu has now spread beyond poultry farms, and is infecting populations of wild birds nationwide. Last week, it was responsible for the deaths of more than 200 birds in a lake in Illinois, 36 bald eagles in as many as 14 states, and an unreported number of birds in at least two U.S. zoos.

https://fortune.com/2022/04/18/egg-prices-surging-avian-flu/