SUMMARY
Egg prices in the US have shot up to almost $10 a dozen, about ₹860 per 12 pieces, amid bird flu scare. The US government is preparing to overhaul its bird flu response strategy, shifting away from mass culling and focusing on vaccination and stronger biosecurity measures. Here’s the plan.
1 / 9Americans are fed up with egg-flation. Yes, egg prices in the US have shot up to almost $10 a dozen, about Rs 860 per 12 pieces, amid bird flu scare. The Donald Trump administration is now preparing to overhaul its bird flu response strategy, shifting away from mass culling. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
2 / 9The US authorities will focus on vaccination and stronger biosecurity measures. With millions of birds lost to the disease, officials are exploring new ways to contain outbreaks while minimising economic damage. Here are the things the US is planning. (PTI Photo)
3 / 9As a first step, the Agriculture Department is scrambling to rehire workers who were involved in the US government’s response to the ongoing bird flu outbreak that has devastated egg and poultry farms over the past three years. The workers were among the thousands of federal employees eliminated on the recommendations of billionaire Elon Musk ‘s Department of Government Efficiency that is working to carry out Trump’s promise to streamline and reshape the federal government.
4 / 9Focus on Vaccination: The US administration is exploring the use of bird flu vaccines instead of relying solely on mass culling of infected flocks. (Source: Shutterstock)
5 / 9Tighter Biosecurity Measures: Plans include strengthening farm perimeters to prevent disease spread, particularly from wild birds. Measures also include preventing farm workers from spreading the virus via clothing and boots. (Source: Pixabay)
6 / 9Reduced Mass Culling: Officials aim to shift away from the standard practice of destroying entire flocks when infections occur. If culling is still required, officials aim to limit it to smaller, targeted areas rather than entire farms.
7 / 9Government and Academic Collaboration: Experts across various sectors are being consulted to develop an effective plan. The goal is to maintain egg and poultry supply while reducing the economic impact on consumers. (Source: Shutterstock)
8 / 9Regulatory and Trade Concerns: The poultry industry has concerns about how vaccination could impact export markets, as many trading partners ban imports from vaccinated flocks. (Source: Pixabay)
9 / 9New Vaccine Development and Implementation: Companies like Zoetis have received conditional approval for bird flu vaccines, with others also working on new solutions. Current vaccines require injections, making mass vaccination difficult, but research continues on more efficient delivery methods like water-based vaccines. (Source: Shutterstock)
