Bird flu causing near-record poultry deaths in US, further fueling inflation

According to a report from Reuters, the ongoing bird flu outbreak has led to a near-record number of poultry deaths in the United States. More than 47 million birds have died due to infections and cullings. That’s just less than the 50.5 million birds who died in the U.S. during an outbreak back in 2015.

“Unfortunately what we’ve done probably hasn’t been enough to protect us from this high load of virus in the wild bird population,” Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said. “This virus could be present in wild birds for the foreseeable future.”

USDA records show the bird flu outbreak has infected flocks in 42 states since February, twice as many as in 2015. Farmers are fighting a subtype of the H5N1 strain of the virus that survived over the summer, when rising temperatures typically reduce avian flu. Officials are finding the subtype in a broader range of wild birds than in the past, and it seems to live in the birds longer.

“This one is certainly different,” Sifford said.

The same subtype of bird flu causing near-record poultry deaths in the U.S. is also spreading in Europe. The continent is already suffering its worst avian flu crisis, with nearly 50 million poultry culled.

In addition to all the poultry deaths, the bird flu is also contributing to inflation. According to the American Farm Bureau, retail prices for fresh boneless, skinless turkey breast reached a record $6.70 per pound last month. That’s up 112% from a year earlier and 14% above the previous record from 2015.

“The turkey market right now is the craziest I’ve ever seen it,” Indiana turkey farmer Greg Gunthorp said.

Infections in flocks have triggered export restrictions on U.S. poultry, further hurting producers. According to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council, China has blocked poultry from entire states like Arkansas with confirmed cases. The council said it is taking longer than it should to lift the bans.