Sixth case of bird flu reported in Maryland as nation sees rising egg prices

BALTIMORE -- Six cases of bird flu have been reported in Maryland, as of Feb. 2, according to the Department of Agriculture (MDA). 

Department officials said a preliminary test found a presumptive positive case of bird flu in a commercial poultry farm in Worcester County. 

Officials reported another confirmed case in a backyard flock in Montgomery County on Jan. 30. The property was quarantined, and the birds were depopulated to prevent the spread of bird flu. Officials said birds from the infected flock will not enter the food system. 

According to MDA officials, nine commercial operations in the Delmarva region have confirmed cases of bird flu so far, including two farms in Kent County, Delaware, and one in Accomack County, Virginia. 

The MDA is working with Delaware and Virginia to mitigate the spread in the region. 

Bird flu in Maryland

The bird flu threat in Maryland is wreaking havoc on poultry farms, particularly on the Delmarva peninsula. It spreads through their waste during wild bird migration. When this contaminated waste comes in contact with farm animals, they can get sick.

"The weakest link for us is this wildlife. We can't implement biosecurity measures on the flyway, so the farms are doing their best," Dr. Jennifer Trout, the state's veterinarian at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, said.

Bird flu can be fatal for poultry and is largely being blamed for the egg shortage and price hikes.

Maryland reported its first case of bird flu this year on Jan. 10, after a routine sample at a Caroline County farm. At the time, it was the third reported case at a commercial operation in the Delmarva region, Department of Agriculture officials said.

Maryland's second case was reported on Jan. 14 at a Queen Anne's County commercial farm, and another case was reported the next day at another Caroline County farm. 

On Jan. 20, department officials reported another case in Dorchester County.

In Maryland, the state's agriculture department requires testing and other mitigation strategies to avoid spreading diseases like bird flu. Any lactating cows that are coming into the state need to be tested before entry.

After a new order by the MDA, milk tank samples from every farm across Maryland are being tested, according to Dr. Trout. She also says poultry and birds are tested before they harvest eggs, which is routine to make sure flocks are safe and infected birds are not entering the food chain.

Dr. Trout says poultry experience the worst symptoms and can die from contracting the disease. As for dairy cows, she says they can seem off, lethargic, and produce less milk, but it is not lethal. They are typically isolated from the herd until they recover.

Dairy products from Maryland farms usually stay local. Dr. Trout says because the state has no cattle cases of bird flu, milk and other dairy product prices should not rise.

"We're not going to necessarily experience a price increase like people in California would because we don't have it in the area, so we are solid. Everyone is still producing the same amount of milk," Dr. Trout explained.

Farmers are encouraged to used strict biosecurity measures, such as wearing PPE to avoid contracting the virus themselves. Other biosecurity practices include limiting guests on the farm, wearing different shoes in each animal area, foot baths before exiting or entering a barn or house, and limiting the farm animals' exposure to other wildlife, according to Dr. Trout. Farms can also spray down external vehicles that enter the property to avoid tracking waste onto the farm.

What is Avian Influenza? 

H5N1 Bird Flu, or Avian Influenza, is a virus that spreads in birds and can cause outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The virus is contagious among birds, including chickens, turkeys, geese and more. Bird flu can also spread to humans who meet infected equipment or clothing, according to MDA. 

According to the CDC, there were 67 cases of humans being infected with bird flu across the nation in 2024. Most of those cases were in workers at poultry or dairy farms who only experienced mild symptoms, according to CBS News.

In January, CBS News reported a Louisiana resident died after being hospitalized with bird flu. The person had underlying medical conditions and was over the age of 65, according to the state's health department. 

More than a dozen cats have been infected or killed by bird flu due to consuming raw food products, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Officials said it is unclear how the virus spread to pet food, but investigators are working to trace the outbreak. MDA says some of these raw food products are sold in Maryland and are currently under a recall. Dr. Trout recommends stopping your pet's raw diet right now.

In Nevada, a new strain of bird flu, known as D1.1, is infecting cattle. Officials say this is the first time this lethal poultry strain has been found in cows. They have experienced respiratory symptoms, but none have died because of the disease.

In California, a strain of the bird flu called H5N9 was detected at a duck farm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it was the first time the strain was found in American poultry with severe disease. 

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said birds can show the following symptoms when infected: 

• Nasal discharge, coughing and sneezing
• Misshapen eggs or decreased egg production
• Sudden death without clinical signs
• Lack of energy and appetite

Is bird flu raising egg prices?

More than 148 million birds have been euthanized since the H5N1 strain of bird flu reached the U.S. in 2022, CBS News reported.

The USDA's culling policy has already taken a toll on the availability and price of eggs. 

Across the nation, bird flu is being blamed for soaring egg prices at grocery stores and restaurants, but in Maryland, most farms produce meat rather than eggs, Maryland Veterinarian Jennifer Trout told WJZ.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price for a dozen large eggs reached $4.15 in December 2024, up 14% from $3.65 in November. 

The USDA is predicting the price of eggs will rise by 20% in 2025.