The escalating bird flu crisis is ravaging the nation's egg supply, and that shortage has hit Arizona along with the rest of the U.S. Why it matters: An outbreak of avian influenza is growing and has affected nearly 13 million birds in the last 30 days,

A nationwide outbreak of the avian flu is hurting the nation's chicken supply and keeping egg prices high, according to one Arizona egg producer.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to spread in Ohio, with five new commercial poultry flock infections there being reported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). APHIS also reported a new instance of HPAI in Arizona.

According to the Consumer Price Index, egg prices have skyrocketed in recent months, with some consumers paying more than double for a dozen eggs — no thanks to the bird flu outbreak. And newly implemented cage-free laws,

The U.S. alone lost more than 40 million laying hens to bird flu in 2024, said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the Chicago-based American Egg Board.

The American egg market is facing a serious crisis caused by avian flu, which may persist for several more months, CNN reports. As a result, in some parts of the United States, egg shelves are empty,