Egg prices soar in the U.S. due to bird flu; thieves steal a truck, making off with eggs worth $40,000.

Egg Prices Skyrocket in the U.S. Due to Bird Flu; Thieves Steal a Truck Carrying 100,000 Eggs
Egg prices have soared amid the spread of bird flu. Meanwhile, egg thieves have also emerged. Reports indicate that a truck transporting eggs to a store was hijacked, leading to the disappearance of approximately 100,000 eggs. The incident took place in Pennsylvania, USA.

The stolen eggs are valued at $40,000 (approximately ₹3,492,495). The truck, which was on its way to Pete and Gerry’s Organics, a grocery store in Greencastle, was targeted by thieves. Egg prices have increased by 65% compared to last year, and with an additional 20% price hike expected, the theft comes at a critical time. On Tuesday, a $0.50 surcharge per egg was imposed. The 2022 bird flu outbreak had already severely impacted the U.S. for months.

In December, egg prices saw an 8% increase, with the cost of a carton rising by at least $3 more than in 2023. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the bird flu virus spreading in the U.S. has undergone genetic mutations. A sample collected from an infected patient in Louisiana confirmed this mutation.

The 65-year-old patient was hospitalized after experiencing severe respiratory distress and fever. Health experts found unusual genetic changes in the sample taken from him. These mutations were observed in genes that help the virus enter human cells more efficiently, allowing it to rapidly infect respiratory cells. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been notified of the mutation.

The virus responsible for bird flu is identified as H2N1.