In 2025, the United States (US) faced a significant challenge in its poultry industry due to a severe outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This outbreak led to the loss of over 30 million laying hens across nine states, marking one of the most devastating impacts on the nation’s egg production in recent history.
The outbreak began in early January and continued to spread throughout the year, affecting commercial table egg flocks in states such as Ohio, Iowa, California, and Pennsylvania. Ohio was particularly hard hit, with the state accounting for nearly half of the total losses, amounting to 13.5 million hens. The virus’s rapid spread and high mortality rate among poultry necessitated extensive culling to prevent further transmission.
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported 41 outbreaks in commercial table egg layer operations. These outbreaks resulted in significant losses across various types of egg production systems, including conventional caged systems, cage-free setups, and organic operations. Specifically, 19.6 million birds were lost from conventional caged systems, 11 million from cage-free systems, and 26,000 from organic systems. These figures represent approximately 10.8% of both the caged and non-organic cage-free layer flocks as of January 1, 2025.
The impact of the avian influenza outbreak extended beyond the immediate loss of poultry. It disrupted supply chains and led to a sharp increase in egg prices nationwide. Consumers felt the effects as egg prices reached record highs, exacerbated by the reduced availability of eggs and increased demand. The economic repercussions were felt across the industry, affecting farmers, distributors, and retailers alike.
Efforts to contain the outbreak included stringent biosecurity measures, surveillance, and rapid response protocols to identify and manage infected flocks. Despite these efforts, the virus’s persistence posed ongoing challenges, with officials warning of potential future outbreaks that could further strain the industry.
The 2025 avian influenza outbreak underscored the vulnerability of the poultry industry to infectious diseases and highlighted the need for robust preventive measures and contingency plans. As the industry continues to recover, lessons learned from this outbreak will be crucial in shaping future strategies to protect poultry health and ensure the stability of egg production in the US.
Sources: Available upon request