Global bird flu outbreak sent egg prices surging, chicken prices may be next

(Feb 16): Egg prices have soared thanks to the worst-ever global bird flu outbreak that’s ravaged poultry and hen flocks in Europe and US. Now, the disease is showing early signs of spreading in South America, putting global chicken supplies into bigger danger. Cases have been popping up in countries like Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. Just this week in Argentina, the virus was detected in a wild bird. And more alarmingly, on Wednesday Uruguay reported its first case of avian influenza. That’s a problem because it shows that bird flu is rapidly getting closer to Brazil, the world’s biggest chicken exporter. While Brazil is still flu free, a large outbreak in the country would likely have devastating consequences on global meat supplies. Even as food inflation has tamed in recent months, egg prices have bucked the trend because of bird flu. Chicken could follow suit if flu impacts poultry flocks in Brazil, the world’s second-biggest producer, trailing the US. Exports from the South ...