Breakfast is getting a bit more affordable as the price of wholesale eggs is on the decline.

The average price per dozen eggs has been slashed by more than 50 percent since its peak price of $5.43 on December 19. Now, they'll cost you $2.61. The assumption is that poultry farms that were forced to cull their egg-producing hens have begun producing eggs again.

Last year, the U.S. saw the deadliest bird flu outbreak in history across 46 states as 52.7 million chickens died. However, the majority of the deaths were from culling, a process of depopulation in an attempt to stop a virus from spreading.

The avian influenza virus that has swept across is being transmitted to farms by wild birds, unlike the outbreak of 2015, which was spread via farm-to-farm transmission. 

Experts expect the new vamped version of the bird flu to stick around in the states. Like COVID-19, H5N1 has evolved into several different variants, making it more difficult to protect against.


"We don't know exactly what it is about it, but it does seem just to be able to grow and transmit better in wild birds," Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals, told NPR. "Wild birds are the perfect mechanism to spread a virus because they, of course, fly everywhere."

Share:
More In Business
Stretching Your Dollar: When to Opt for a Credit Union Vs. Bank
Kia McCallister-Young, director of America Saves, joined Cheddar News to explain key differences to consider when making a choice between a credit union and a bank. "You want to do your research and know exactly how to gain membership to a credit union," she said, "but, again, banks often are able to be more accessible and be in neighborhoods."
Startup Says 'Smart' Chicken Coops Could Promote Backyard Farming
Producing your own food doesn't mean you have to own your own farm, and it might be as simple as raising some backyard chickens. Agri-tech startup Coop aims to make this easier for non-farmers with a so-called "smart" chicken coop. Cheddar News Senior Reporter Michelle Castillo found a flock to learn more.
Lawmakers Grill Regulators About Banking Collapse
Capitol hill is trying to get to the bottom of the bank collapses that shocked the financial system last month, and today lawmakers grilled banking regulators about why they weren't able to stop the crisis. Cheddar News correspondent Lisa Bennatan broke down the proceedings.
Alibaba to Split Itself Into 6 Business Groups
Alibaba is splitting itself into into six business groups as the Chinese e-commerce company attempts to become more nimble in reacting to changes in the market and increase the value of those units.
At Trial, Minnesota Says E-cigarette Maker Juul Targets Kids
Juul will finally have its day in court for its role in the teen vaping epidemic. The Minnesota attorney general is preparing for opening arguments in the state's lawsuit against the vape maker. Here to break down the complicated backstory for this legal case is Senior Reporter Chloe Aiello.
Load More