Egg shortage: why the avian influenza outbreak has left shoppers and farmers shell-shocked

The avian influenza outbreaks in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT have resulted in the destruction of about 2 million chickens. Photograph: Dado Ruvić/Reuters

The avian influenza outbreaks in south-eastern Australia have caused some gaps on supermarket shelves and prompted temporary buying limits.

To date, most outbreaks have been confined to egg farms. Only one meat farm has been affected and there are no reported shortages or buying limits on chicken meat.