COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Although the eggs you buy at the store are probably more expensive, are they safe to eat in the two-state region?
Cases of avian flu, commonly known as bird flu, have caused mass euthanizations of chickens in large egg farming operations.
Livestock and poultry researchers at Clemson University said a large chicken farm can have anywhere from 100,000 to as many as 4 million chickens.
If any are infected, they said all of those birds have to be depopulated for the risk of exposure.
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Clemson Livestock and Poultry health expert, Julie Helm, said the 3-year stretch of bird flu infection is the largest animal disease outbreak in American history, with a reported 23 million chickens infected since January.
Experts with the USDA are now weighing the idea of vaccinating chickens at larger egg operations, but Helm said the risk may not be worth the reward.
As a note of caution, Helm urged people with yard chickens to closely monitor their flock. She said they are most likely to come into close contact with wild birds carrying the disease.
Helm said the eggs being sold in stores are not from infected chickens.
But, Helms said it could be at least a year before depopulated egg farms are even close to replacing the amount of chickens they lost.
Helm says the prices are spiking because of the flu. And, the millions of lost eggs are being felt by consumers at the cash register.
Grocery stores in the CSRA and across the country have started rationing eggs amid an ongoing shortage that has caused the price of eggs to skyrocket.
And, the national egg shortage isn't just affecting local grocery stores and restaurants, but also people who raise backyard chickens in Georgia.
With egg prices reaching record highs and grocery store shelves running low, many people are looking to alternative sources.
This has led to a big boost in business for one chicken owner in Georgia, but it's also brought challenges.
If you're looking for farm-fresh eggs, it might be a good idea to send those requests weeks in advance.