Avian flu: 20 million+ laying hens killed in the USA

In recent months, the avian influenza epidemic that is circulating widely in the United States has led to the death of over 20 million laying hens, a significant number that is also having a substantial impact on the cost of eggs, which has increased exponentially, particularly in California. Most of the hens did not die from the infection, but they perished as a result of the mass culling carried out after finding a positive case on a farm. The situation is complicated by the circulation of the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus during winter months when environmental conditions are conducive to its survival. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reported that the federal government has allocated over $1.25 billion to compensate farmers and ranchers for the forced culls of their livestock. The avian influenza virus has also recently spread to pigs and dairy cattle in the USA, despite virologists believing these animals to be immune to the virus. Since late 2021, the avian influenza epidemic has evolved into a global panzootic, affecting a substantial number of wild and farmed species, including mammals such as felines (cats, tigers, lions), foxes, bears, pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) and mustelids (ferrets, minks, stoats, etc.).