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Part of a report on bird flu briefly appeared on a CDC web page before being taken down. From the information that appeared it is not clear whether cats got bird flu from people or vice versa. We need more information on the study and its results to draw any conclusions. We do know that cats are especially susceptible to bird flu, and cat owners can protect their cats by keeping them indoors and avoiding raw pet food products.
WHAT WE KNOW
Cats are very susceptible to bird flu, and the virus is often deadly for cats. Dogs can also get the virus, but they appear to be more resilient to it.
Most cats get bird flu from contaminated raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. It is also possible for outdoor cats to get sick from contact with wild birds. Cat owners should keep their cats indoors, and avoid raw pet food products.
High heat is necessary to kill the virus. Freeze dried or frozen raw cat food is not safe for cats because it is not heated and could still have the live virus. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding cats raw food.
In 2016, a veterinarian in New York City got sick with bird flu from a cat. This was the last reported case of a person getting bird flu after being exposed to several sick cats.
More information on how to protect your pets from bird flu can be found on the American Veterinary Association's website.
UNKNOWNS
We are still waiting for the release of the full report to help determine how likely it is for people to get bird flu from cats or vice versa.
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Part of a report on bird flu briefly appeared on a CDC web page before being taken down. From the information that appeared it is not clear whether cats got bird flu from people or vice versa. We need more information on the study and its results to draw any conclusions. We do know that cats are especially susceptible to bird flu, and cat owners can protect their cats by keeping them indoors and avoiding raw pet food products.
WHAT WE KNOW
Cats are very susceptible to bird flu, and the virus is often deadly for cats. Dogs can also get the virus, but they appear to be more resilient to it.
Most cats get bird flu from contaminated raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. It is also possible for outdoor cats to get sick from contact with wild birds. Cat owners should keep their cats indoors, and avoid raw pet food products.
High heat is necessary to kill the virus. Freeze dried or frozen raw cat food is not safe for cats because it is not heated and could still have the live virus. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding cats raw food.
In 2016, a veterinarian in New York City got sick with bird flu from a cat. This was the last reported case of a person getting bird flu after being exposed to several sick cats.
More information on how to protect your pets from bird flu can be found on the American Veterinary Association's website.
UNKNOWNS
We are still waiting for the release of the full report to help determine how likely it is for people to get bird flu from cats or vice versa.
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Each spring, public health experts make predictions about what the most common flu virus variants will be for the upcoming fall flu season. Vaccines are then produced to protect against those variants. When this prediction is accurate, the flu vaccine is more effective. But the flu virus can change over time, so some predictions are less accurate. Some believe that happened this year. Still, even a mismatched vaccine will lower a person’s chances of severe flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Variants included in the 2024/2025 flu vaccine are influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.
We won’t know the true effectiveness of the flu vaccine this year until after the flu season is over, but based on data from the Southern Hemisphere it is likely around 35% effective, which is lower than last year’s 42% but still close to the typical range of 40% to 60% effectiveness.
There are several factors that determine how many people get sick with the flu each year including which strain of the vaccine is dominant and how many people get vaccinated.
For the first year since the COVID pandemic began, the number of deaths from seasonal influenza is higher than the number of deaths from COVID.
Even if you still get sick after getting the flu vaccine, being vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalized or getting severe illness.
Even if you already got sick with the flu this season without being vaccinated, you could still get sick with a different strain than the one you already had. It is not too late to get the flu vaccine to reduce your risk of serious illness.
UNKNOWNS
We will not know the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine in the U.S. until the flu season is over and public health officials are able to examine the data.
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Each spring, public health experts make predictions about what the most common flu virus variants will be for the upcoming fall flu season. Vaccines are then produced to protect against those variants. When this prediction is accurate, the flu vaccine is more effective. But the flu virus can change over time, so some predictions are less accurate. Some believe that happened this year. Still, even a mismatched vaccine will lower a person’s chances of severe flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Variants included in the 2024/2025 flu vaccine are influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.
We won’t know the true effectiveness of the flu vaccine this year until after the flu season is over, but based on data from the Southern Hemisphere it is likely around 35% effective, which is lower than last year’s 42% but still close to the typical range of 40% to 60% effectiveness.
There are several factors that determine how many people get sick with the flu each year including which strain of the vaccine is dominant and how many people get vaccinated.
For the first year since the COVID pandemic began, the number of deaths from seasonal influenza is higher than the number of deaths from COVID.
Even if you still get sick after getting the flu vaccine, being vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalized or getting severe illness.
Even if you already got sick with the flu this season without being vaccinated, you could still get sick with a different strain than the one you already had. It is not too late to get the flu vaccine to reduce your risk of serious illness.
UNKNOWNS
We will not know the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine in the U.S. until the flu season is over and public health officials are able to examine the data.
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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on Friday, 2/14/2025 about tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state. According to the update, there were 41 cases of TB in Nebraska in 2024. This number is still relatively low but represents the highest number of TB cases in one year over the past 20 years. So far, none of the cases in Nebraska have been linked to a different TB outbreak in Kansas.
WHAT WE KNOW
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads from person to person through the air, not by saliva nor germs on hands and surfaces.
It is important to get treatment for active TB infections since the disease can be fatal if left untreated, although this is very rare in the U.S.
Treatment is long and includes taking a combination of medications for 6-12 months for adults and 4-9 months in children. Side effects of these medications can be hard for some people to tolerate, but it is important to complete the entire treatment process to prevent TB from returning or becoming resistant to the medications.
Latent TB means the germs are in someone's body, but they are not experiencing symptoms because the infection is not active. This kind of TB cannot be spread from person to person. People with latent TB are often prescribed medications to help prevent an active infection in the future.
There is not a vaccine for TB in the U.S.; it does exist in other parts of the world but is only partially effective. The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to avoid being around sick people and ensuring people who have TB receive treatment. An N95 or KN95 mask can help prevent inhaling the germs.
UNKNOWNS
Nebraska Department of health continues to monitor the TB outbreak and will provide updates as they become available.
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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on Friday, 2/14/2025 about tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state. According to the update, there were 41 cases of TB in Nebraska in 2024. This number is still relatively low but represents the highest number of TB cases in one year over the past 20 years. So far, none of the cases in Nebraska have been linked to a different TB outbreak in Kansas.
WHAT WE KNOW
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads from person to person through the air, not by saliva nor germs on hands and surfaces.
It is important to get treatment for active TB infections since the disease can be fatal if left untreated, although this is very rare in the U.S.
Treatment is long and includes taking a combination of medications for 6-12 months for adults and 4-9 months in children. Side effects of these medications can be hard for some people to tolerate, but it is important to complete the entire treatment process to prevent TB from returning or becoming resistant to the medications.
Latent TB means the germs are in someone's body, but they are not experiencing symptoms because the infection is not active. This kind of TB cannot be spread from person to person. People with latent TB are often prescribed medications to help prevent an active infection in the future.
There is not a vaccine for TB in the U.S.; it does exist in other parts of the world but is only partially effective. The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to avoid being around sick people and ensuring people who have TB receive treatment. An N95 or KN95 mask can help prevent inhaling the germs.
UNKNOWNS
Nebraska Department of health continues to monitor the TB outbreak and will provide updates as they become available.
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On January 31st, The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that two backyard poultry flocks in Nebraska tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu that can be deadly to poultry. One flock is in Kearney and one in Nance County. Although this is the first infected flock detected in 2025, HPAI was first detected in Nebraska in 2022. In 2024 cases were detected in flocks in Dodge, Sarpy, Lancaster, Gage, Johnson, and Nemaha Counties. The risk to humans remains low.
WHAT WE KNOW
Highly pathogenic bird flu is transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry by exposure to infected wild birds or their feces, or infection by other infected poultry.
Backyard flock owners should take precautions to minimize exposure of their birds to bird flu, and use personal protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning coops or collecting eggs. Raw egg that is not pasteurized could carry bird flu. Cooking the egg so it is not runny and washing hands well after collecting or handling unpasteurized flocks can help reduce risk. More information can be found here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a more severe form of bird flu that is often fatal for birds. A lower pathogenic form of the virus (LPAI) causes mild or unnoticeable symptoms in birds. The difference between the two types is the virus's ability to produce disease. HPAI was the type detected in cattle.
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On January 31st, The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that two backyard poultry flocks in Nebraska tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu that can be deadly to poultry. One flock is in Kearney and one in Nance County. Although this is the first infected flock detected in 2025, HPAI was first detected in Nebraska in 2022. In 2024 cases were detected in flocks in Dodge, Sarpy, Lancaster, Gage, Johnson, and Nemaha Counties. The risk to humans remains low.
WHAT WE KNOW
Highly pathogenic bird flu is transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry by exposure to infected wild birds or their feces, or infection by other infected poultry.
Backyard flock owners should take precautions to minimize exposure of their birds to bird flu, and use personal protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning coops or collecting eggs. Raw egg that is not pasteurized could carry bird flu. Cooking the egg so it is not runny and washing hands well after collecting or handling unpasteurized flocks can help reduce risk. More information can be found here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a more severe form of bird flu that is often fatal for birds. A lower pathogenic form of the virus (LPAI) causes mild or unnoticeable symptoms in birds. The difference between the two types is the virus's ability to produce disease. HPAI was the type detected in cattle.
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Seasonal influenza cases are elevated nationally and expected to remain elevated in the weeks ahead. It's the second peak in flu cases this season, and doctor’s visits for flu-like symptoms are higher than they have been in 15 years. According to CDC’s flu tracking data, flu levels are “very high” for Nebraska and Georgia, and “high” for Missouri. As of February 1st, the CDC estimates there have been 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths from flu in the U.S. since October. The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
WHAT WE KNOW
In the week ending February 1st, flu rates in the U.S. are estimated to be higher than they have been in the past 15 years. The CDC uses a combination of current test results and hospitalizations as well as some assumptions about flu behavior based on previous years to estimate flu rates. Infection or testing patterns may change these estimates. More information on these assumptions can be found here.
Some schools have temporarily closed due to high numbers of student absences due to illness. The temporary closings allow for time to disinfect classrooms and for sick staff and students time to recover. At least ten states have seen school closures due to high levels of illness this season.
Based on surveillance data as of February 12, 2025, the most common flu viruses currently circulating are Influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, which are seasonal influenza viruses that circulate yearly.
People who have the flu should stay home until 24 hours after they no longer have a fever to avoid spreading it to others. It is also not too late to get vaccinated, and it is recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine each year.
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Seasonal influenza cases are elevated nationally and expected to remain elevated in the weeks ahead. It's the second peak in flu cases this season, and doctor’s visits for flu-like symptoms are higher than they have been in 15 years. According to CDC’s flu tracking data, flu levels are “very high” for Nebraska and Georgia, and “high” for Missouri. As of February 1st, the CDC estimates there have been 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths from flu in the U.S. since October. The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
WHAT WE KNOW
In the week ending February 1st, flu rates in the U.S. are estimated to be higher than they have been in the past 15 years. The CDC uses a combination of current test results and hospitalizations as well as some assumptions about flu behavior based on previous years to estimate flu rates. Infection or testing patterns may change these estimates. More information on these assumptions can be found here.
Some schools have temporarily closed due to high numbers of student absences due to illness. The temporary closings allow for time to disinfect classrooms and for sick staff and students time to recover. At least ten states have seen school closures due to high levels of illness this season.
Based on surveillance data as of February 12, 2025, the most common flu viruses currently circulating are Influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, which are seasonal influenza viruses that circulate yearly.
People who have the flu should stay home until 24 hours after they no longer have a fever to avoid spreading it to others. It is also not too late to get vaccinated, and it is recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine each year.
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Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of canned tuna products, including the Genova, VanCamps, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s label names. The recall is due to a manufacturing defect in the can that may allow contamination or spoilage of the tuna. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, and independent retailers. People should check their pantries for the recalled tuna and return or throw it away even if it looks and smells normal.
WHAT WE KNOW
The manufacturing defect affects the pull tab of the tuna can lid and could cause the tuna to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces a toxin called botulinum which causes Botulism.
Botulism is a rare but serious disease that attacks the nervous system and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly death.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are naturally occurring in many places but need very specific conditions to grow and produce botulinum. Botulinum toxin cannot be detected with smell, color, or taste.
Canned foods that are improperly sealed are ideal environments for this bacterium to make the toxin, which is why the tuna cans were recalled and should be returned to the store or thrown away.
UNKNOWNS
No illnesses have been reported with this defect. The company will announce if any additional brands or lots have been affected.
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Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of canned tuna products, including the Genova, VanCamps, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s label names. The recall is due to a manufacturing defect in the can that may allow contamination or spoilage of the tuna. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, and independent retailers. People should check their pantries for the recalled tuna and return or throw it away even if it looks and smells normal.
WHAT WE KNOW
The manufacturing defect affects the pull tab of the tuna can lid and could cause the tuna to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces a toxin called botulinum which causes Botulism.
Botulism is a rare but serious disease that attacks the nervous system and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly death.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are naturally occurring in many places but need very specific conditions to grow and produce botulinum. Botulinum toxin cannot be detected with smell, color, or taste.
Canned foods that are improperly sealed are ideal environments for this bacterium to make the toxin, which is why the tuna cans were recalled and should be returned to the store or thrown away.
UNKNOWNS
No illnesses have been reported with this defect. The company will announce if any additional brands or lots have been affected.
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The average price of eggs was $7.09 per dozen January 29th, 2025, an increase of 22% since January 1st. In 2024, 34.8 million chickens were killed by or culled due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu). As of January 24th, that total increased by 8.3 million birds. These losses, combined with factors like seasonal winter rise in egg demand, inflation, and individual state policies are leading to historically high egg prices. Current trends suggest egg prices will remain high or rise throughout 2025.
WHAT WE KNOW
The average price of $7.09 means that in some areas of the country and in some stores egg prices may not be that high, and in other areas like some parts of California egg prices could be as high as $9.00/dozen.
In states where laws require chickens to be cage-free, the prices are higher because cage-free eggs are more expensive. This is why egg prices in California reached over $9.00/dozen in some stores.
Some stores are keeping egg prices lower to draw shoppers in and taking a loss on egg sales.
People tend to bake more in the winter, which leads to a seasonal spike in egg sales in winter months. This increase in demand is adding to the increase in egg prices.
There have been no documented cases of a human getting bird flu from eating an egg. Store-bought eggs are pasteurized, which kills the bird flu virus. If getting eggs from a farmstand or other non-pasteurized source, people should wash their hands after handling the eggs and it is recommended to cook eggs until firm or they reach a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
UNKNOWNS
While it is expected that egg prices will either remain high or continue to rise based on current trends, we do not yet know what egg prices will do for the remainder of 2025.
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The average price of eggs was $7.09 per dozen January 29th, 2025, an increase of 22% since January 1st. In 2024, 34.8 million chickens were killed by or culled due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu). As of January 24th, that total increased by 8.3 million birds. These losses, combined with factors like seasonal winter rise in egg demand, inflation, and individual state policies are leading to historically high egg prices. Current trends suggest egg prices will remain high or rise throughout 2025.
WHAT WE KNOW
The average price of $7.09 means that in some areas of the country and in some stores egg prices may not be that high, and in other areas like some parts of California egg prices could be as high as $9.00/dozen.
In states where laws require chickens to be cage-free, the prices are higher because cage-free eggs are more expensive. This is why egg prices in California reached over $9.00/dozen in some stores.
Some stores are keeping egg prices lower to draw shoppers in and taking a loss on egg sales.
People tend to bake more in the winter, which leads to a seasonal spike in egg sales in winter months. This increase in demand is adding to the increase in egg prices.
There have been no documented cases of a human getting bird flu from eating an egg. Store-bought eggs are pasteurized, which kills the bird flu virus. If getting eggs from a farmstand or other non-pasteurized source, people should wash their hands after handling the eggs and it is recommended to cook eggs until firm or they reach a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
UNKNOWNS
While it is expected that egg prices will either remain high or continue to rise based on current trends, we do not yet know what egg prices will do for the remainder of 2025.
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Part of a report on bird flu briefly appeared on a CDC web page before being taken down. From the information that appeared it is not clear whether cats got bird flu from people or vice versa. We need more information on the study and its results to draw any conclusions. We do know that cats are especially susceptible to bird flu, and cat owners can protect their cats by keeping them indoors and avoiding raw pet food products.
WHAT WE KNOW
Cats are very susceptible to bird flu, and the virus is often deadly for cats. Dogs can also get the virus, but they appear to be more resilient to it.
Most cats get bird flu from contaminated raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. It is also possible for outdoor cats to get sick from contact with wild birds. Cat owners should keep their cats indoors, and avoid raw pet food products.
High heat is necessary to kill the virus. Freeze dried or frozen raw cat food is not safe for cats because it is not heated and could still have the live virus. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding cats raw food.
In 2016, a veterinarian in New York City got sick with bird flu from a cat. This was the last reported case of a person getting bird flu after being exposed to several sick cats.
More information on how to protect your pets from bird flu can be found on the American Veterinary Association's website.
UNKNOWNS
We are still waiting for the release of the full report to help determine how likely it is for people to get bird flu from cats or vice versa.
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Each spring, public health experts make predictions about what the most common flu virus variants will be for the upcoming fall flu season. Vaccines are then produced to protect against those variants. When this prediction is accurate, the flu vaccine is more effective. But the flu virus can change over time, so some predictions are less accurate. Some believe that happened this year. Still, even a mismatched vaccine will lower a person’s chances of severe flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Variants included in the 2024/2025 flu vaccine are influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.
We won’t know the true effectiveness of the flu vaccine this year until after the flu season is over, but based on data from the Southern Hemisphere it is likely around 35% effective, which is lower than last year’s 42% but still close to the typical range of 40% to 60% effectiveness.
There are several factors that determine how many people get sick with the flu each year including which strain of the vaccine is dominant and how many people get vaccinated.
For the first year since the COVID pandemic began, the number of deaths from seasonal influenza is higher than the number of deaths from COVID.
Even if you still get sick after getting the flu vaccine, being vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalized or getting severe illness.
Even if you already got sick with the flu this season without being vaccinated, you could still get sick with a different strain than the one you already had. It is not too late to get the flu vaccine to reduce your risk of serious illness.
UNKNOWNS
We will not know the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine in the U.S. until the flu season is over and public health officials are able to examine the data.
SOURCES
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heard this concern.
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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on Friday, 2/14/2025 about tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state. According to the update, there were 41 cases of TB in Nebraska in 2024. This number is still relatively low but represents the highest number of TB cases in one year over the past 20 years. So far, none of the cases in Nebraska have been linked to a different TB outbreak in Kansas.
WHAT WE KNOW
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads from person to person through the air, not by saliva nor germs on hands and surfaces.
It is important to get treatment for active TB infections since the disease can be fatal if left untreated, although this is very rare in the U.S.
Treatment is long and includes taking a combination of medications for 6-12 months for adults and 4-9 months in children. Side effects of these medications can be hard for some people to tolerate, but it is important to complete the entire treatment process to prevent TB from returning or becoming resistant to the medications.
Latent TB means the germs are in someone's body, but they are not experiencing symptoms because the infection is not active. This kind of TB cannot be spread from person to person. People with latent TB are often prescribed medications to help prevent an active infection in the future.
There is not a vaccine for TB in the U.S.; it does exist in other parts of the world but is only partially effective. The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to avoid being around sick people and ensuring people who have TB receive treatment. An N95 or KN95 mask can help prevent inhaling the germs.
UNKNOWNS
Nebraska Department of health continues to monitor the TB outbreak and will provide updates as they become available.
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On January 31st, The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that two backyard poultry flocks in Nebraska tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu that can be deadly to poultry. One flock is in Kearney and one in Nance County. Although this is the first infected flock detected in 2025, HPAI was first detected in Nebraska in 2022. In 2024 cases were detected in flocks in Dodge, Sarpy, Lancaster, Gage, Johnson, and Nemaha Counties. The risk to humans remains low.
WHAT WE KNOW
Highly pathogenic bird flu is transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry by exposure to infected wild birds or their feces, or infection by other infected poultry.
Backyard flock owners should take precautions to minimize exposure of their birds to bird flu, and use personal protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning coops or collecting eggs. Raw egg that is not pasteurized could carry bird flu. Cooking the egg so it is not runny and washing hands well after collecting or handling unpasteurized flocks can help reduce risk. More information can be found here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a more severe form of bird flu that is often fatal for birds. A lower pathogenic form of the virus (LPAI) causes mild or unnoticeable symptoms in birds. The difference between the two types is the virus's ability to produce disease. HPAI was the type detected in cattle.
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Seasonal influenza cases are elevated nationally and expected to remain elevated in the weeks ahead. It's the second peak in flu cases this season, and doctor’s visits for flu-like symptoms are higher than they have been in 15 years. According to CDC’s flu tracking data, flu levels are “very high” for Nebraska and Georgia, and “high” for Missouri. As of February 1st, the CDC estimates there have been 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 13,000 deaths from flu in the U.S. since October. The CDC recommends that everyone aged 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine.
WHAT WE KNOW
In the week ending February 1st, flu rates in the U.S. are estimated to be higher than they have been in the past 15 years. The CDC uses a combination of current test results and hospitalizations as well as some assumptions about flu behavior based on previous years to estimate flu rates. Infection or testing patterns may change these estimates. More information on these assumptions can be found here.
Some schools have temporarily closed due to high numbers of student absences due to illness. The temporary closings allow for time to disinfect classrooms and for sick staff and students time to recover. At least ten states have seen school closures due to high levels of illness this season.
Based on surveillance data as of February 12, 2025, the most common flu viruses currently circulating are Influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2, which are seasonal influenza viruses that circulate yearly.
People who have the flu should stay home until 24 hours after they no longer have a fever to avoid spreading it to others. It is also not too late to get vaccinated, and it is recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine each year.
UNKNOWNS
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Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of canned tuna products, including the Genova, VanCamps, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s label names. The recall is due to a manufacturing defect in the can that may allow contamination or spoilage of the tuna. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, and independent retailers. People should check their pantries for the recalled tuna and return or throw it away even if it looks and smells normal.
WHAT WE KNOW
The manufacturing defect affects the pull tab of the tuna can lid and could cause the tuna to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces a toxin called botulinum which causes Botulism.
Botulism is a rare but serious disease that attacks the nervous system and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly death.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are naturally occurring in many places but need very specific conditions to grow and produce botulinum. Botulinum toxin cannot be detected with smell, color, or taste.
Canned foods that are improperly sealed are ideal environments for this bacterium to make the toxin, which is why the tuna cans were recalled and should be returned to the store or thrown away.
UNKNOWNS
No illnesses have been reported with this defect. The company will announce if any additional brands or lots have been affected.
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The average price of eggs was $7.09 per dozen January 29th, 2025, an increase of 22% since January 1st. In 2024, 34.8 million chickens were killed by or culled due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu). As of January 24th, that total increased by 8.3 million birds. These losses, combined with factors like seasonal winter rise in egg demand, inflation, and individual state policies are leading to historically high egg prices. Current trends suggest egg prices will remain high or rise throughout 2025.
WHAT WE KNOW
The average price of $7.09 means that in some areas of the country and in some stores egg prices may not be that high, and in other areas like some parts of California egg prices could be as high as $9.00/dozen.
In states where laws require chickens to be cage-free, the prices are higher because cage-free eggs are more expensive. This is why egg prices in California reached over $9.00/dozen in some stores.
Some stores are keeping egg prices lower to draw shoppers in and taking a loss on egg sales.
People tend to bake more in the winter, which leads to a seasonal spike in egg sales in winter months. This increase in demand is adding to the increase in egg prices.
There have been no documented cases of a human getting bird flu from eating an egg. Store-bought eggs are pasteurized, which kills the bird flu virus. If getting eggs from a farmstand or other non-pasteurized source, people should wash their hands after handling the eggs and it is recommended to cook eggs until firm or they reach a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
UNKNOWNS
While it is expected that egg prices will either remain high or continue to rise based on current trends, we do not yet know what egg prices will do for the remainder of 2025.
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