A second outbreak of avian influenza in Maryland is exacerbating the ongoing egg crisis, as supply disruptions caused by the spread of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza continue to affect the state and beyond. According to the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the outbreak was first detected at a chicken farm in Caroline County on January 10th. More recently, avian influenza was confirmed in Queen Anne’s County, prompting the culling of all chickens at these farms to prevent further spread of the disease.
The avian influenza was discovered during routine poultry testing, as confirmed by a state agriculture official. This highly pathogenic strain of bird flu is spreading rapidly across the United States, with outbreaks reported in key egg-producing regions, including Iowa, Washington State, and Maryland. In total, over 125 million chickens have been culled nationwide due to the virus, with more than 20 million chickens being culled since October 15, 2024.
As a result of these widespread outbreaks, the price of eggs has surged. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2022, eggs were priced below $2 per dozen. By January 2023, the price had soared to $4.82, and it is now projected to reach $7.95 by the end of this year. These escalating prices signal that the egg crisis may persist for more than a year.
To manage the tight supply, some grocery stores in Washington, D.C., including Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s, have begun limiting the number of eggs that customers can purchase per household.