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Bird Flu Crisis: 175M Poultry Lost, Pandemic Threat Looms

10/15/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak, first detected in the United States in 2022, has severely affected wildlife and poultry farming.
Over 175 million poultry birds have died or been culled, and egg prices may rise 24% in 2026.
Ecological consequences include die-offs among mammals such as seals in Argentina.
In 2024, 67 human cases were reported, with no confirmed human-to-human transmission, and the virus could mutate to trigger a pandemic.

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Story summary

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak, first detected in the United States in 2022, has severely affected wildlife and poultry farming.
Over 175 million poultry birds have died or been culled, and egg prices may rise 24% in 2026.
Ecological consequences include die-offs among mammals such as seals in Argentina.
In 2024, 67 human cases were reported, with no confirmed human-to-human transmission, and the virus could mutate to trigger a pandemic.