ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The market is hot right now when it comes to eggs according to a farmer at Midwest Egg Farms. The company and other egg producers have watched the market go up about 50 cents a dozen on eggs this week.

“I don’t know what to expect, it’s just crazy right now,” said the Midwest Egg Farms employee.

The uncertainty comes as bird flu is spreading and killing millions of chickens. Midwest Egg Farms, which does mostly wholesale business, has nearly 100,000 chickens on its eastern Missouri farm and is keeping a close eye on the news about the virus.

At least 10 million chickens in 13 states have been killed so far this year due to avian influenza, also known as the bird flu. Missouri has had 6 cases so far this year, including reports in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties.

Midwest Egg Farm says it isn’t seeing the demand like during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company expects prices will be impacted but it’s unclear exactly how that will trickle down to consumers.

Around St. Louis, a dozen of large eggs was $1.69 Friday at local grocers Schnucks. It says the bird flu is certainly something to keep an eye on. It gets most of its eggs from Rose Acre Farm in Lincoln County, Missouri.  The grocer says current egg prices are going up due to inflation and chicken feed has been the reason for some price increases.

According to Urner Barry’s food commodity market report, wholesale eggs jumped 10 cents to $1.60 a dozen on Wednesday, the biggest single-day gain since the onset of COVID-19. Midwest Egg Farms says the price went up Thursday and then rose another 20 cents Friday.

Urner Barry also reports some retailers have begun to pull heavier volumes as bird flu stands to threaten the supply chain. The report says these buyers hope to be well-stocked by the time Easter-related demand bolsters consumer interests.

When it comes to wholesale buying, the report says interest is high as players hope to secure as much inventory as possibly given the uncertainty brought about by the ongoing Avian Flu epidemic.

Midwest Egg Farms says it has received calls from wholesalers wanting to stock up to take advantage of the current prices.

State and federal officials hope the disease won’t spread as extensively as during an outbreak in 2015 that led to the deaths of about 50 millions chickens and turkeys, causing egg and meat prices to soar. Scientists are confident that wild birds are spreading the disease, but they are unsure how the virus infects commercial flocks in highly secure barns. Research since 2015 suggests the virus can be tracked inside on equipment, workers, mice, small birds, and even dust particles.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the recent bird flu infections in flocks do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. While it can be transmitted to humans, it is unusual and typically due to close contact with infected birds.