Written by: Mirella Barrera-Betancourt

It has been a year since the outbreak of the avian influenza, which rocked egg inventories and raised wholesale egg prices. In January 2023, Oregonians saw the prices of eggs spike higher in percentage than any other food item, such as chicken or turkey.

The avian flu, also known as the bird flu, had a devastating effect on flocks of hens across the country, forcing farms to kill more than 43 million hens by the end of December 2022 to limit the spread of the disease and costing the government roughly $660 million. The outbreak hit in two separate waves, from February to June and from September to December.

The avian flu is a highly contagious virus, spread easily through wild bird droppings and nasal discharges, making it incredibly difficult for farmers to contain the spread of the disease. 

Though this specific virus does not significantly pose a threat to human health, as a reminder, poultry should be cooked to 165℉ to ensure any present viruses are eliminated.

The outbreak, combined with soaring inflation, fuel and labor costs are grounds for havoc from consumers. Amid a national supply shortage, grocery stores in and around Oregon are continuing to face struggles with meeting the market demand for eggs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Investigation, the consumer price of eggs rose 8.5% to an average price of $4.82 per dozen this past January.

The limited supply of eggs is prevalent for many individuals, including college students. 

At Western, Valsetz Dining Hall — students’ main source for easy, on-campus dining — had to resort to charging diners for the difference in supply and demand. At their registers, a sign has been put on display informing diners of the raised prices for meals containing eggs.

Currently, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately for consumers, there is no guarantee that egg prices will go back to being one of the cheaper, more nutritious food options.

However, new flocks of hens have begun repopulating farms, which may indicate a significant advancement toward replenishing the United State’s egg supply.

Contact the author at howlnews@wou.edu