The U.S. is very close to seeing a record number of chicken and turkey deaths caused by High Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
Currently, almost 48 million birds have died from infection or culling, and experts say it is because this virus is different from than ones farmers have battled before, like in 2015. They say the current virus appears to live in birds longer and there is an elevated threat of infections until at least next summer. As a result, producers have faced export bans, lower egg and turkey production, and rising prices right before Thanksgiving.
Those prices have already reached record highs with fresh, boneless turkey breast reaching $6.70/pound, which is up 112 percent from last year, and production of turkey meat is expected to drop 6 percent.
The Minnesota Turkey Growers Association says it takes roughly six months to decontaminate a farm and resume operations after an outbreak, leaving consumers to foot the bill for what could be an expensive Thanksgiving dinner.
