HPAI News: Feb 10 2025

A Waffle House location in Austin TX, shining like a beacon of late night comfort food

Numbers and Statistics

APHIS reports that forty-three states plus the territory of Puerto Rico have confirmed cases of HPAI in 2025 (1). In addition, Maine and North Dakota have unconfirmed cases in 2025 as reported by local media outlets (2,3). Hawaii, South Carolina, Oklahoma, New Hampshire and New Mexico are the only states with no confirmed or suspected cases so far this year, although most have reported cases within the past few months.

Egg Prices Impact Restaurants

Waffle House made news with its announcement that all egg dishes will be subject to a 50 cent per egg surcharge (4). The chain cited the rising cost of eggs, which continued to increase this past week from a national average of $6.70 to $7.34 per dozen (loose truckload, white large shell eggs) (5). Other restaurants across the country have quickly followed suit, although Waffle House rival Cracker Barrel has announced that it will not be implementing a similar charge. Egg prices have been the most visible impact of bird flu for the general public, with almost 20% of avian influenza news stories focusing on egg supply. Although much of this coverage has attempted to explain what’s driving prices, the lack of knowledge regarding supply and demand dynamics is causing frustration and concern.

Notable New Cases

Dairy cows in Nevada have tested positive for H5N1; notably, the flu virus genotype detected in these animals has previously only been found in birds (6). The virus exhibited a genetic variation that is usually associated with an adaptation to mammalian hosts. One person, a dairy farm worker, has tested positive for H5N1 and is isolating at home with mild symptoms (7).

NY Closes Live Bird Markets

In an attempt to slow the spread of H5N1, New York governor Kathy Hochul has announced the closure of all live bird markets in New York City and Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties (8). The closures will last through February 14 and will require depopulation, disinfection, and reinspection before reopening. This comes after seven cases of bird flu were detected at markets in Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn. Live bird markets in densely populated urban centers represent a unique source of risk: any mutation in the virus that makes it more infectious to humans, or allows its spread between humans, could spread rapidly.