Bird Flu Updates: Trader Joe's, Costco, and others limiting egg purchases(Feb 10, 2025)

Hi 👋 Before you dive latest in-depth bird flu news roundup, we’ve updated birdfluwatcher.com with affected poultry trend and state map data - check it out if you are interested.

Quite a lot news in today’s update, including a staggering 100,000 eggs were reportedly stolen amid the price surges, reflecting the strain on consumers.

In This Update

• Latest Developments

• Scientific Research & Developments

• Public Health Updates

• Economic Impacts

• Wildlife & Pet Safety

• Looking Ahead

Latest Developments

• A new H5N1 bird flu variant has been detected in a dairy worker in Nevada, raising alarms about the virus's potential to adapt and spread among mammals. The variant shows genetic changes that suggest some degree of mammalian adaptation. [Source] [Source]

• Major retailers like Trader Joe's, Costco, and others have started limiting egg purchases per customer due to supply chain disruptions caused by the outbreak's impact on egg production facilities. [Source] [Source] [Source]

• A staggering 100,000 eggs were reportedly stolen amid the price surges, reflecting the strain on consumers. [Source]

• Multiple bird deaths suspected to be from avian flu have occurred at zoos in New York City, impacting ducks and wild birds across several species. At least 15 birds have died so far. [Source] [Source] [Source]

• A chicken farm in Victoria, Australia has been quarantined after a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was detected, marking a new outbreak in the country. [Source]

• Thousands of eared grebes have died along the Great Salt Lake shoreline in Utah due to avian flu, with estimates of up to 25,000 birds killed, representing a massive wildlife impact. [Source] [Source]

Scientific Research & Developments

• The new H5N1 variant found in Nevada dairy cows shows genetic mutations suggesting some degree of adaptation to mammalian hosts, a concerning development that brings the virus a step closer to posing a pandemic risk. [Source] [Source]

• Experts warn that "we have never been closer to a pandemic from this virus" based on the Nevada findings, though the variant does not yet spread easily between mammals. [Source] [Source]

• A study at the University of Illinois explored what makes the current H5N1 strain so unusual in its ability to infect multiple species. Findings could guide future research. [Source]

Public Health Updates

• While the overall human risk remains low, the emergence of the Nevada H5N1 variant has raised concerns and a need for increased monitoring for any further viral adaptation. [Source]

• Health authorities stress the importance of taking precautions around birds and following safety guidelines, especially for high-risk groups like poultry workers. [Source]

• In addition to the Nevada case, avian flu has been detected in poultry in states like Indiana, Nebraska, and Louisiana, as well as in wild birds in New York. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]

• New York has implemented temporary closures of live poultry markets as a precautionary measure to curb potential spread. [Source]

• Experts reiterate calls for strict biosecurity protocols on farms and avoiding contact with potentially infected birds. [Source] [Source]

Economic Impacts

• The U.S. market continues to see supply disruptions and soaring prices due to the toll of avian flu outbreaks on poultry flocks. Some grocers are keeping prices high to slow demand. [Source] [Source]

• Over 2 million birds in Pennsylvania have been impacted by recent detections, adding to the strain on the poultry industry. [Source] [Source]

• Farmers, particularly in hard-hit regions like the Mississippi Delta, are questioning the adequacy of federal aid and subsidies to cope with the devastating effects of this outbreak on their livelihoods. [Source]

• Shoppers face not only higher prices but also potential purchase limits at major retailers due to supply constraints caused by the outbreak's toll on production facilities. [Source] [Source] [Source] [Source]

• The outbreak has severely disrupted the poultry industry, including egg and turkey production, leading to supply shortages and price hikes for consumers. [Source] [Source]

• In addition to losses from culling infected flocks, the virus threatens export markets and has forced some producers to depopulate healthy birds due to labor shortages. [Source]

• Egg prices remain at record highs in many areas due to supply shortages, impacting consumers' grocery budgets and leading some to seek alternatives. [Source]

Wildlife & Pet Safety

• The mass die-off of eared grebes in Utah represents a devastating blow to that species' population in the region. [Source] [Source]

• Suspected cases in New York zoos have impacted multiple wild bird species like ducks, with over 15 deaths so far. [Source] [Source]

• Experts caution that the virus continues to pose risks to vulnerable wild bird populations across different habitats. [Source]

• With evidence that domestic cats can contract the virus, pet owners are advised to keep their cats indoors and away from potentially infected birds or environments to reduce risks. [Source]

Looking Ahead

• Intensive study of the Nevada H5N1 variant is underway to assess its transmissibility and potential to spread further in mammalian hosts. [Source]

• Experts predict the virus will continue evolving and potentially accumulating more mammalian-adapted traits that could bring it closer to posing a pandemic threat. Vigilant monitoring is crucial. [Source] [Source]

• Disruptions to the poultry supply chain and elevated consumer egg prices may persist for many months until the outbreak is contained. [Source]

• Locations with high densities of poultry operations and those along migratory flyways are at heightened risk. Monitoring and prevention efforts in these areas will be crucial. [Source]

Stay informed and stay safe.

Jennifer