Amidst an avian flu outbreak, Rhode Islanders are scrambling to find low-priced eggs as egg prices across the board reached a boiling point.

The past few months have been grim for egg farmers in the Midwest as they deal with avian flu. Now, due to a drastic shortage of eggs, consumers too are beginning to feel the effects from the disease as businesses across the country, including those in Warwick, are undergoing a massive spike in egg prices. A dozen eggs, which cost under $2 a year ago, is approaching the $3 mark, the highest ever according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The ripple effect has increased the price of eggs in most stores and restaurants in Warwick, in some places even doubling the previous price. Dave’s Marketplace on Airport Road and Stop & Shop on Greenwich Avenue both have signs above the eggs that read, “We’re sorry, due to national supply shortages, egg prices are rising.” Stop & Shop is also encouraging customers that do not need a whole dozen eggs to take less with another sign that reads “Don’t need a dozen? Fresh eggs are now available in reduced quantities.”

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is calling this the worst avian flu outbreak in U.S. history with 2,382,300 birds becoming infected in June alone. Due to the rapid spread of the disease, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and, most recently, Nebraska have declared a state of emergency. Upon finding infected birds among their flocks, farmers have been forced to slaughter upwards of 44 million chickens, turkeys and geese since last December. With the shortage of eggs, egg prices have soared to more than 150 percent their original prices in several locations.

Though Rhode Island is not one of the states with infected birds, the crisis in the Midwest has a strong influence on the pricing of eggs here. According to the American Egg Board (AEB) Iowa and Minnesota are in the top egg producing states in the country, Iowa being number one. With both states declaring a state of emergency due to the number of chickens affected by the avian flu, the price of eggs is expected to stay high.

The Masthead Grill, a local Warwick restaurant, reported that a case of 15 dozen eggs that once cost around $23 has now has risen to $84 a case, forcing them to raise the prices on their breakfast specials.

The USDA stated that the outbreak has affected the birds in 15 states, though the disease has not yet affected Rhode Island farms. According to news reports, a large market chain in Texas has begun rationing eggs, not allowing customers to buy more than three dozen eggs and some fast food chains, including one named Whataburger, have decreased its breakfast hours in order to supply eggs to all locations. The USDA stated, “No human cases of these HPAIH5 viruses have been detected in the United States, Canada or internationally.”