Maps and charts that explain the looming egg crisis everyone will soon be talking about
By Roberto A. Ferdman June 9 

Until only a few weeks ago, one of the most devastating outbreaks egg farmers had ever seen in the United States had gone largely unnoticed. The industry, which had to kill off more than 20 million birds in May alone, was well aware, but consumers, who had yet to feel the consequences, were largely aloof.

A recent string of news, however, has changed all that.

The bird flu, which first appeared in this country back in December, is now so widespread that it has caused egg prices to spike. The impact has been severe enough that one of the largest supermarket chains in the country, worried about the supply pinch, has begun rationing eggs.

But the avian flu is about much more than just higher prices for your omelettes. It's become a vast epidemic affecting several regions of the country. Here are seven maps and charts to help understand the seriousness of the avian flu.

The Midwest has had it the worst

The virus, which was first detected in Washington state, has spread throughout much of the United States. The map below shows that some parts of the country, such as the Midwest, have proved more vulnerable than others. The problem in these areas has, in many ways, been exacerbated by the prevalence of commercial farms, where millions of birds are housed in close proximity to each other. This is particularly true at commercial egg farms.

"It's a very concentrated area for egg laying production," said Todd Kuethe, who is a professor at the University of Illinois, and studies agricultural economy. "That's been a big factor."

http://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2015/06/Bird-flu-May-the-deadliest-month.png&w=1484

Some 28 million birds (25.6 million chickens and 2.4 million turkeys) were affected by the bird flu in May alone. The chart below speaks for itself.

http://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2015/06/Map-of-bird-flu.jpg&w=1484

My farm fresh egg price has stayed the same 6.5 a dozen...
I wonder if this is supermarket eggs affected not up here haven't seen the huge jumps

EGAD...I know Moe...I've tried to 'RESIZE' them but just gave up; between sluggish internet today and migraine --- my brain is pretty much a Snapfu!!! Sorry, I just changed the edit.


Heard on the NPR station that they're canceling all poultry exhibits for the county fairs --- and testing Canadian snow geese and finding the 'BUG' among them --- that's how it's getting spread so quickly!

SitkaRains stated >>>
My farm fresh egg price has stayed the same 6.5 a dozen...
I wonder if this is supermarket eggs affected not up here haven't seen the huge jumps

most everything in Alaska is about 4 times higher there, because of the shipping factor... so they have room to wiggle on price adjustments...

Well I get my straight from a farmer.. Rarely do I buy them in the store.
When I do a dozen is running me about 3.89 for cagefree, hormone free, browns...

2old2 stated >>>
EGAD...I know Moe...I've tried to 'RESIZE' them but just gave up; between sluggish internet today and migraine --- my brain is pretty much a Snapfu!!! Sorry, I just changed the edit.

Heard on the NPR station that they're canceling all poultry exhibits for the county fairs --- and testing Canadian snow geese and finding the 'BUG' among them --- that's how it's getting spread so quickly!

MightyMoe stated >>>
i'm not so sure i believe any of that just yet... bird flu, swine flu, mad cow disease... seems that every animal we eat has a virus that makes the price go up...

i was shocked at the prices when i was in Kodiac, but i loved the scenery... we were also told not to drink till the sun went down, because it never went down... just abot 3 hours of twilight and it was right back in the sky...lol

Hmmmm, well it's a fact; and sadly the number of urinary tract infections {especially in elderly women} have become antibiotic resistant = due to the amount of poultry that women have switched over to - avoiding red meat for dietary guidelines! {circa mid 70's}

We have been stuffing 'Antibiotics' into our grains for: cattle/swine/poultry/sheep/goats for 30+ years now and it's causing our food sources to get 'SUPER BUGS' that can't be treated; just like what happens with humans when we were allowed/getting antibiotics for simple colds/sniffles!
The Medical research has proven this and it's something 'MAN MADE'!

2old2 stated >>>
Heard on the NPR station that they're canceling all poultry exhibits for the county fairs --- and testing Canadian snow geese and finding the 'BUG' among them --- that's how it's getting spread so quickly!

MightyMoe stated >>>
i'm not so sure i believe any of that just yet... bird flu, swine flu, mad cow disease... seems that every animal we eat has a virus that makes the price go up...

2old2 stated >>>
Hmmmm, well it's a fact; and sadly the number of urinary tract infections {especially in elderly women} have become antibiotic resistant = due to the amount of poultry that women have switched over to - avoiding red meat for dietary guidelines! {circa mid 70's}

We have been stuffing 'Antibiotics' into our grains for: cattle/swine/poultry/sheep/goats for 30+ years now and it's causing our food sources to get 'SUPER BUGS' that can't be treated; just like what happens with humans when we were allowed/getting antibiotics for simple colds/sniffles!
The Medical research has proven this and it's something 'MAN MADE'!

mightymoe stated >>>
i agree... what really pisses me off is that they charge you more money for the meat that costs them less to produce because they aren't injecting the animals or using it in their foods... it's all a scam, in my eyes...

SitkaRains stated >>>
Yes, when I lived in Sitka we told newby's the cost of living was about 41% higher than national average on our little paradise island.
You must have been here close to summer solstice.

ToOLD that would be really tough on that type of business or people on limited incomes that use eggs as a primary protein source...

nascar stated >>>
Interesting,live in the midwest and still paying $150ish for a dz of eggs,,not like are gas prices.....

ciretom stated >>>
The bird flu epidemic is crazy.

I saw some kids bullying another on the playground the other day.
As soon as a fat kid start flapping his arms squawking "chicken! You're chicken!" a bunch of people in hazmat suits tackled them and drew blood samples.