Egg Producers Struggle as Bird Flu Outbreak Continues to Devastate

Greg Herbruck faces avian flu challenges, culling millions of birds. The industry debates costly vaccination strategies.

February 3, 2025

A Battle Against Bird Flu: Farmers and Experts Weigh In on Strategies and Challenges

At Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, a farm known for being one of the largest egg producers in the United States, the ongoing avian flu outbreak has forced the culling of millions of birds. The crisis has placed an emotional and financial burden on the farm’s staff, leaving them in distress.

“The mental toll on our team of dealing with that many dead chickens is just, I mean, you can’t imagine it,” expressed Greg Herbruck, the CEO of Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch. The farm had to euthanize 6.5 million birds as part of the USDA’s “stamping out” strategy designed to control the spread of the virus.

The avian flu outbreak began severely impacting Herbruck’s operations in April 2024, when the first cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 were detected among their hens. The farm quickly implemented the USDA’s response plan, which includes culling infected flocks and extensive disinfection procedures.

Despite rigorous biosecurity measures, including showering protocols and truck washing stations, the outbreak continues to pose a threat. The virus has affected 147 million birds across commercial and backyard flocks in the U.S., and the risk to human health is a growing concern.

A sign outside Herbruck's Poultry Ranch in Saranac, Michigan, one of the largest egg producers in the US. Since the last bird flu outbreak in 2015, farms have invested millions of dollars into biosecurity. — A sign outside Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch in Saranac, Michigan, one of the largest egg producers in the US. Since the last bird flu outbreak in 2015, farms have invested millions of dollars into biosecurity.

The current outbreak has surpassed previous ones in severity, leading experts to call for new strategies. Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious diseases physician, expressed heightened concern over the past six months due to the virus’s spread into mammals and increased human cases, including the first U.S. death.

Efforts to contain the virus have prompted discussions about vaccination as a potential solution. Countries like China, Egypt, and France have already adopted vaccination strategies for poultry. However, in the U.S., the idea faces resistance due to potential trade implications and logistical challenges.

“The one we’re battling today is unique,” noted David Swayne, a leading expert in avian influenza. He emphasized the virus’s ability to spread across species, increasing the risk of human infections.

Red Star chickens feed in their coop at Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview, Ill. on Jan. 10, 2023.

The egg industry, represented by the American Egg Board, is advocating for vaccination, arguing that it could be a critical tool in combating the virus. Emily Metz, the board’s president and CEO, highlighted the extensive biosecurity investments made by farms, including truck washing stations and laser light systems to deter wild birds.

However, without a federal mandate, vaccination remains off the table. Infectious disease experts like Bhadelia stress the importance of reducing human infection risks by controlling the virus in animals. “The lesson that we keep learning every single time, is that if we’d acted earlier, it would have been a smaller problem,” she remarked.

The USDA has announced its intention to explore a stockpile of vaccines tailored to current outbreak strains, acknowledging the challenges and potential trade impacts involved. As the fight against avian flu continues, stakeholders remain divided on the path forward.

This story comes from NPR’s health reporting partnership with Michigan Public and KFF Health News.

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