This special edition is devoted to recent developments relating to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) with regard to

• Ongoing flock losses
• The inevitable escalation in the retail price of eggs
• The introduction of tactical immunization as an adjunct to biosecurity and to protect flocks in high-risk areas
• Possible emergence of a zoonotic H5N1 strain. 

The number of hens depopulated in an attempt to control the infection has now exceeded 27 million during the first six weeks of 2025.  This follows the loss of 24 million hens in 2024, 13 million in 2023 and 43 million during 2022 marking the beginning of the ongoing North American epornitic.  The high price of eggs is a point of contention with the Administration since pre-election rhetoric promised to reduce food inflation.  The following series of articles and releases over the past two weeks provides perspective and commentary on the issue of HPAI.