In 2025, the United States has been affected by a surge in egg prices. This trend primarily comes from the ongoing Avian influenza (bird flu) outbreak that has severely impacted poultry populations nationwide. According to the USDA, a 41% increase in egg prices is expected in the next 6 months. But how is this affecting the market?

The current outbreak has led to millions  of birds dying, significantly reducing egg production. In January 2025 alone, approximately 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected by Avian bird flu, the highest monthly total since the outbreak began. This caused supply to be reduced, causing a large increase in egg prices.

In January alone, the average cost of 12 Grade A large eggs was $4.95, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics, the highest in the last 30 years surpassing previous peak prices recorded in January 2023. Eggs can be as high as $17 in places like Los Angeles or New York.

According to the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in March 2019, the average price for these same eggs was just $1.40 and, adjusted to today’s inflation, about $2.05, the lowest in the last 30 years.

Will prices go up or down? Well, the USDA’s Economic Research Service highlights that egg prices will remain high. The estimated increase of prices by them is 15% to 74.9%. But is anyone taking action to stop this? Luckily, in response to the crisis Agriculture secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the Trump administration plans to invest $1 billion to combat the avian flu and stabilize egg prices. The funding plans to go to supporting poultry farmers, including $400 million in financial relief to farmers affected by bird flu, strengthening measures to stop viruses and start vaccine development.

The current administration also is willing to import 420 million eggs from Turkey, the only country the U.S. imports eggs from. “Bird flu is the main reason of increasing export capacity,” said Ibrahim Afyon, chairman of the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey.

Another issue of bird flu is human infection. In 2024, 66 people have been infected by bird flu because of the recent outbreak. In 2025, three cases already have been confirmed.

Bird Flu is very dangerous for both humans and animals. It causes severe respiratory issues, fever, cough, tiredness and pneumonia. The extremely high risk of pneumonia from the flu; most need to be hospitalized due to a high risk of death. Similarly, the virus easily infects your lungs and upper respiratory tract, and can reach the brain through that way. According to World Health Organization, 954 people have been affected with bird flu since 2003, and 464 people have died, which means it has a 49% death rate in humans. For comparison, worldwide, COVID-19 for people only has a 1.1% death rate. The Department of Health and Human Services has warned about a potential pandemic from the virus, even though it’s unlikely.

Over 148 million birds have been euthanized because of the infection, and the global bird death rate is much higher from just the disease.

As the United States deals with high egg prices due to the avian flu outbreak, the economic and public health impacts are significant. With millions of birds lost, supply shortages, and prices reaching record highs, consumers and businesses are feeling the damage. As efforts by the government and farmers to control the outbreak continue, the nation waits for lower egg prices.