Even though the latest avian flu outbreak was first reported in the U.S. in early 2022, it’s reentered the headlines this year due to egg prices. What do you want people to know about the ongoing situation? 

The original lineage of this virus was first detected in 1996 in China, and it’s changed over time, much like how the COVID-19 virus has evolved.

The last U.S. outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was in 2014-15, and in that case, it mostly infected commercial poultry but there were only a handful of infections in wild birds, which made it easier to stamp out the outbreak.

What’s different about the most recent outbreak is we’ve detected the virus in thousands of wild birds in the U.S., which makes it much more difficult to control, since these species migrate globally, making them really good at spreading the virus.

Most of the cases in commercial and backyard poultry are the results of wild bird introduction of the virus, making it very difficult for producers to prevent introduction of the virus into their flocks. It’s also a very deadly virus, and agricultural officials are working to depopulate flocks where the virus is detected and dispose of the bodies properly.

Colorado has lost almost its entire egg-laying population during this outbreak, which is why egg prices are as high as they are and there’s a lower supply.

The other thing to note is that because the virus is in wild birds it’s now not possible to fully stamp the virus out of the U.S, so we’re focusing efforts on preventing transmission from wild birds to domestic poultry.

How exactly do wild birds spread the virus to domesticated ones? 

Avian influenza virus spreads similarly to the flu in humans by transmitting bird to bird. Birds can shed the virus in their respiratory and fecal secretions. People can also play a role in spreading the virus, such as  foot traffic contaminated by bird droppings or contaminated clothing and equipment.

The reservoir for avian influenza viruses are waterfowl and shorebird populations. It’s a smart virus, because it has picked a reservoir species that commingle with each other and migrate all over the world.

It’s inherently a very contagious virus, and when you get one sick bird in a commercial operation, it spreads very quickly.

But again: We’re not just seeing this virus in commercial operations. We’re seeing it in backyard flocks too.

There’s been chatter on social media from people who are considering raising backyard chickens to avoid buying the expensive eggs in stores. You’re saying that might not be the best solution? 

I don’t recommend getting backyard flocks at this time due to the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza. I support backyard chickens, but now’s not the best time to start your flock. It’s very hard to keep wild birds out of your backyard, and I don’t recommend raising chickens inside due to the potential spread of pathogens from birds to humans.

If you already have backyard chickens, I recommend protecting them from wild birds getting into their areas, such as keeping them cooped up as much as possible and netting over their outside spaces. We’re even detecting avian flu cases in small birds like crows or ravens, which are easily able to get into small areas.

What’s the risk of humans getting sick from the avian flu? 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is only listing one human case of the avian flu in the U.S. during this outbreak, and there have been scattered cases in other countries. So far, it’s been encouraging, but we don’t want the virus to evolve and be able to spillover to humans more easily.