Running low on eggs? Certain stores in Florida are experiencing shortages as a result of bird flu outbreaks.

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.’”

View pictures in App save up to 80% data.

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 v