US: Cost of fighting bird flu outbreaks tops $670 million

So far, the USDA has spent more than $670 million to contain highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and to indemnify owners for their losses, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service told Ag Insider. Outlays included more $414 million in compensation for “depopulated” birds and eggs, $142 million to cull flocks, dispose of dead birds and activities to kill the virus and $114 million in personnel, state agreements and field costs. The current outbreak is the worst ever in terms of the number of birds infected by HPAI or culled to prevent its spread. Bird flu spreads quickly and has a high mortality rate, so it is standard procedure for animal health officials to kill all the birds when tests confirm a flock is infected. Egg prices fell sharply after the New Year holiday — down by more than $2 a dozen at wholesale in an East Coast market — but are trending upward on New York and Midwest markets. Demand for eggs traditionally rises ahead of Easter and so do prices. “Consumer ...