Economic Assessment of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in the USA

The economic impact of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the U.S. is explored, focusing on events from 2014-2015 and from 2022 onward. The 2014-2015 outbreak affected over 7 million turkeys and 43 million egg-laying hens and pullets, resulting in $879 million government expenditures. The 2022 outbreak has been more widespread and long-lasting, affecting over 100 million birds across multiple states, but formal economic assessments are still ongoing. Export restrictions due to HPAI significantly influenced market dynamics, causing price fluctuations. As of 2024, HPAI continues to pose challenges, with emerging infections in dairy cattle, although they exhibit mild symptoms. For future analysis of the economic impact of HPAI in the U.S., the rational behavior of economic agents and factors other than HPAI should be considered, and vaccination, along with thorough surveillance, might also be worth including in the analysis.