Easter may be several months off, but grocery shopping could soon resemble an egg hunt due to the effects of the bird flu outbreak, which is influencing egg supplies in Florida.

Several grocery stores in the Tampa Bay region, such as Publix and Sprouts, reported low egg stock on Friday, with certain shelves completely bare. According to Publix representatives on Thursday, the shortage is attributed to an increase in demand stemming from worries that the ongoing bird flu outbreak may restrict availability.

“The company stated, ‘We are actively striving to reintroduce these products at the earliest opportunity. We recommend that customers visit us frequently, as our stores are receiving regular shipments.’”

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A random survey of local stores found eggs in some and supplies low in others, including a Sprouts store in West Tampa and a Publix store in Brandon. Egg prices have also risen with the outbreak, with the price of a dozen eggs averaging $3.65 nationwide, up from $2.70 in May, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The current outbreak of bird flu, officially known as avian influenza, began in February 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that an elderly Louisiana resident was the first in the nation to die from bird flu. The agency said there is no evidence that the virus is spreading from person to person.

The virus has been detected in almost 1,400 flocks, across the United States since the outbreak started and cases are rising. In December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 18.2 million birds were housed in poultry farms where cases of bird flu have been confirmed, 11 million more than the previous month.

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In all, almost 30 million birds have been infected with millions more chickens and turkeys culled in a attempt to limit disease spread. Populations of both egg-laying birds and those bred for meat have been affected.

The virus has been detected in 41 backyard flocks across Florida, impacting over 14,000 birds.

Local small-scale farms that raise chickens have reported that, as of now, the outbreak has not impacted their activities.

Travis Malloy, who runs Trail Bail Farm in Tampa, has approximately 800 hens that lay eggs. He mentioned that none of his free-range birds have fallen ill.

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“I have a mobile coop that I relocate each week,” Malloy mentioned. “Being out in the open provides them with much better protection against bird flu.”

Chase Richie, who runs Red's Farm in Riverview, manages a flock of approximately 1,400 chickens that are raised for meat production.

He mentioned that the birds are usually raised and processed in a span of eight weeks.

“They're relocated to a new pasture every day,” Richie explained. “This helps maintain their cleanliness and overall health.”