Cases of bird flu around the nation are on the rise, hitting 28 states and Puerto Rico over the past 30 days. Also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1, the new highly transmissible and fatal strain of avian flu, D1.1, spreads to animals through contact with wild birds. In just the first five days of February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 20 outbreaks.
In January, the CDC reported three outbreaks of bird flu in North Carolina. The outbreaks were reported in Hyde County, 247 miles away from Elon, and in Sampson County, 134.3 miles from Elon. There have been no reported cases of bird flu in Alamance County.
Nationwide, as of Feb. 18, bird flu has been detected in 12,064 wild birds, according to the CDC, with over 162.7 million poultry birds impacted as of Feb. 20.
Michael Martin, the director of the veterinary division at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture said the new variant is spreading rapidly and sweeping across the nation.
“This virus has just been very relentless as far as this ongoing outbreak we’ve had,” Martin said. “Although it’s all part of the same outbreak strain, we’ve had a new variant that originated in wild migratory birds in the pacific northwest.”
Since poultry birds, such as chicken, are the most affected by the virus, the outbreak over the past three years has substantially impacted egg production in major suppliers. With the unreliability in egg supply, grocers are raising prices and limiting the number of cartons customers can buy, including Walmart, Trader Joes and Costco.
Over the month of January, the average price for eggs increased 15.2%, and between January of 2024 and 2025, prices of meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 6.1%, and the average price of eggs increased 53% according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
However, while consumers may be shocked by prices at the supermarket, the recent bird flu outbreaks are not shocking to experts. In February 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced an outbreak of HPAI A in a commercial poultry facility, the first HPAI A virus detections in commercial poultry in the U.S. since 2020.
According to Michael Martin, the director of the veterinary division at the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, North Carolina saw positive cases of H5N1 bird flu as early as 2022, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 22 cases of avian flu in the state since October 2022.
“What it is, is all of those egg farms across the country over the course of three years being affected, really affects the supply chain for our eggs,” Martin said. “And as such, these egg prices do go up because of this ongoing national outbreak.”
North Carolina is a top producer for chicken nationwide, producing over 976.2 million broilers, or chickens raised for meat, annually according to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s website. Broiler production also accounts for more than $6.8 billion for North Carolina farmers each year.
North Carolina is also ranked first in the nation for poultry and egg sales and second for turkey production, with over 28 million turkeys raised in the state each year. In 2023, North Carolina exported $353.5 million worth of poultry and poultry products. Agriculture’s impact on the North Carolina economy sits at $111.1 billion as of 2024, according to the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Martin said since bird flu spreads quickly, isolation is difficult as most of the flock is infected before signs begin to show. He recommends that owners concerned about the health of their domesticated birds should always refer to official resources from the USDA as well as their veterinarians.
Symptoms of bird flu in birds include but are not limited to low energy or appetite, purple discoloration or swelling of various body parts, and/or reduced egg production according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. However, the main sign of bird flu is rapid death.
“It’s no great way to die with this horrible virus,” Martin said. “The whole nationwide is built on trying to stamp out the virus quickly to prevent its spread to other domestic poultry farms.”
He also said individual owners can prevent contact between their animals and wild birds by cleaning up any spilled animal feed outside, removing water sources that may attract other fowl and removing any bird feeders in areas where domesticated animals are housed.
Many farms around the country are limiting visitors and tours as worries rise about avian flu coming into their flocks from the outside. Martin recommends people with backyard flocks wear designated clothing and shoes when coming into contact with their animals, and that owners wash their hands or shower before and after visiting their birds.
Bird Flu has also been detected in cattle, cats, dogs and humans. The CDC and USDA say wild bird droppings that animals come in contact with can carry the virus and therefore transfer bird flu to humans.
While there are a few reported cases of bird flu in humans, the Food and Drug Administration confirms it’s still safe to consume chicken and eggs that are fully cooked and emphasizes only drinking pasteurized milk, as raw milk can carry bacteria and other pathogens.
“The virus is really hot right now,” Martin said. “It’s spreading right now. There are concerns and you can never say never, never say always. But there’s no evidence to suggest that this is the next pandemic.”