Bird flu blamed for pricy eggs

(CNS): A local supermarket has blamed an outbreak of Avian Influenza in the United States for hikes in the price of eggs here in Cayman. The flu has claimed more than 38 million birds across the US and Canada, with egg laying birds being particularly impacted. Some twenty commercial egg farms have tested positive for AI in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin, more than 20 per cent of the layers in the egg production business.

As the egg industry works with the state and federal officials, egg farmers are said to be deeply concerned about the flu, which is taking a terrible financial and emotional toll on the farm community.

Avian Influenza, or bird flu, is a virus that infects wild birds such as ducks, gulls, and shorebirds as well as domestic poultry. Highly pathogenic, it is often fatal in chickens and turkeys and spreads more rapidly than low pathogenic Avian Influenza and has a higher death rate in birds. Avian Flu is primarily spread by contact between healthy birds and infected birds and through indirect contact with contaminated equipment and materials. The virus is excreted through the feces of the infected birds and through secretions from the nose, mouth and ears.

Foster’s Supermarket said that it was also expecting the supply of chicken and turkey to also be affected in the coming weeks.

“Unfortunately, we have seen price increases in eggs at all of our Foster’s Food Fair-IGA, Priced Right & Bay Market locations. We expect to see another price increase next week,” officials have said.

The disease is not, however, impacting local eggs or products from Jamaica and other countries in the region. It is not clear what action any of the local supermarkets and importers are taking to increase imports from other countries to ensure a continued supply of poultry and affordable eggs.