Bird Flu Kills 17 Million Birds, Raises Price of Eggs by 50%

By Yehudit Garmaise

Now birds appear to be facing a pandemic of their own, as a virus that causes avian influenza, or the bird flu spreads among birds and raises the price of poultry and eggs.

While water birds, such as ducks, geese, gulls, and swans can carry the bird flu without looking sick, infected chickens and turkeys that get infected with the virus can get sick and die.

Approximately 17 million birds have recently died as a result of the avian flu outbreak, BrooklynNews 12 reported.

The risk of birds infecting other animals and humans with bird flu is low, but with so many chickens out sick, eggs are scarce, and as a result cost as much as 50% more than usual.

Like so many other food items, prices of the soybeans and corn that is used to feed chickens is also soaring, additionally adding the to the cost of egg production.

With eggs in high demand in the weeks before Pesach, egg experts provide tips on how to save money on eggs and make them last:

1.  While brand-name eggs cost 24 cents each, one private label egg will cost approximately 16 cents. 

2.  Before buying eggs, consumers should inspect them for cracks, because the bacteria from one cracked egg can leak and spread to the rest of the eggs.

3.  Consumers should store eggs in their original containers and in the coldest parts of refrigerators: not on the doors.

4.  Refrigerated eggs stay fresh for three weeks, so consumers should be careful to check for eggs’ expiration dates, which should not before at least three or four weeks from the dates of purchase.