(IMAGN) A hen sits on eggs in a bucket Wednesday morning, March 5, 2025, at Mardet Family Farm on Range Road near Kings Mountain.
SACRAMENTO, California — A significant bird flu outbreak that has affected California farms since August is beginning to show signs of decline, state health and agriculture officials announced on Wednesday. This development brings much-needed relief amid a health crisis that has significantly driven up egg prices across the nation.
“Thankfully, we do see here in California the flu outbreak is slowing down,” stated Dr. Erica Pan, director of the California Department of Public Health, during a state Senate committee hearing. Pan noted that there have been no new human cases reported since January, marking a positive trend in the public health response. Furthermore, State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones reported that the state’s nearly 1,000 dairy herds are experiencing a slower rate of infection. There has also been a decline in outbreaks among poultry, with numerous flocks exiting quarantine to replenish their stock.
“The good news is we are lifting quarantines now faster than we’re placing them,” Dr. Jones said, reflecting on the challenges faced during the peak of the outbreak. “There were times in December where I wanted to break down in tears, because every night we got 30 new cases.”
The encouraging news comes after several months of rising case numbers, which have had widespread repercussions across the country. In December, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency in response to the escalating bird flu crisis, which has been a key factor in the notable spike in egg prices, a topic that has recently gained traction in national political discussions, including during President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.
To date, approximately 753 herds have been impacted statewide, with a total of 38 human cases reported.
State officials highlighted that there have been three distinct waves of the virus affecting poultry since 2022, originating from contact with wild birds. The worst outbreak occurred last December, when poultry farmers successfully shielded their stock from wild bird infections but began to see the virus spread from infected dairy herds.
Despite the recent positive developments, experts warn that it may take some time before egg prices return to normal levels, as California continues to grapple with the most severe outbreak in its history.
