Washington Post – “Until only a few weeks ago, one of the most devastating outbreaks egg farmers had ever seen in the United States had gone largely unnoticed. The industry, which had to kill off more than 20 million birds in May alone, was well aware, but consumers, who had yet to feel the consequences, were largely aloof. A recent string of news, however, has changed all that. The bird flu, which first appeared in this country back in December, is now so widespread that it has caused egg prices to spike. The impact has been severe enough that one of the largest supermarket chains in the country, worried about the supply pinch, has begun rationing eggs. But the avian flu is about much more than just higher prices for your omelettes. It’s become a vast epidemic affecting several regions of the country. Here are seven maps and charts to help understand the seriousness of the avian flu…”

• See also USDA resources on Avian Influenza