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A second outbreak of bird flu has been reported in NC.
ICYMI, the NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services confirmed a second NC outbreak of avian flu (aka bird flu) at a commercial turkey operation in Sampson County Jan. 28. The pathogen spreads between—you guessed it—birds, but can also be contracted by cattle and, in rare cases, humans.
And in bad news for both birds and people, the virus is spreading rapidly, with all 50 states detecting outbreaks. Bird flu is highly contagious and can wipe out a flock in a matter of days. To wit, less birds mean less eggs—and rising prices.
In 2023, SoFi Learn reported the average cost of eggs in North Carolina was $5.60, with the average price predicted to increase by 20.3% in 2025. The soaring prices can be directly attributed to bird flu, as once the disease is detected, the entire flock must be eliminated. NC ranked No. 1 in poultry and egg cash receipts in 2023 according to the NCDA&CS, so bigger economic issues than the cost of eggs could also be on the horizon.
On the bright side, while the disease is sweeping the nation’s poultry, there haven’t been any human infections reported in NC. Most U.S. cases have occurred in California, and according to the CDC, there have only been 67 confirmed human cases of bird flu since the 2024 outbreak.
Additionally, there is currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission, but a single mutation in the virus could allow for a higher risk of human infection. Unless you are in contact with poultry or cattle often, the possibility of contraction remains low. But, as everyone is *hopefully* already doing, practice good hygiene and cook your meat properly to decrease chances of exposure.
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Frightening