There is a lot of chatter at the moment about the high price of eggs and I’m not talking about the chocolate Easter variety. Egg prices have doubled and tripled recently and since this is a staple in most family homes, consumers are naturally concerned. But what is the reason for this sudden price rise and will it affect other foods too?

The simple answer is “bird flu” so let me explain what that is and why it matters.

Bird flu, or avian flu, is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds. In rare cases, it can affect humans. There have been four strains recently that have caused concerns and have led to some human deaths globally.

These strains have been found in production poultry, pet birds and wildlife and have spread through Russia, China, Europe, UK and the US. It is a global issue.

Where strains are found in production poultry, the birds are culled to stop the spread of infection. In the US, where bird flu has infected more than a thousand major poultry farms in the past year, 27 million egg-laying hens – about nine per cent of the nation's egg-laying flock – have been killed in the past two months. In Britain in the past four months, 1.8 million laying hens have been culled. This has led to a huge gap in the production chain, demand is greater than supply, and so the price increases at the store. The price changes will also affect food products that contain eggs, such as pasta, baked goods and mayonnaise.

The risk of humans catching bird flu is low and there are currently no cases of human-to-human spread. People who work with birds can mitigate the risk by using good hand hygiene and wearing gloves when handling birds or bird carcasses. There is a low risk of transmitting bird flu by eating undercooked or raw infected eggs and meat, so be sure to cook poultry products thoroughly and don’t feed raw eggs or meat to your pets.

If you own or keep pet birds at home, they should be prevented from mixing with wild birds to reduce the risk of contamination, including their water and feeding bowls. Move your pets to suitable enclosures with netting to keep out wild birds. Always disinfect your shoes before entering and keep the bedding clean. Watch out for symptoms of bird flu in your pet birds, which include a swollen head, watery closed eyes, lethargy, tremors, and drooping wings. Contact your vet if you are concerned and need advice.

Poultry and egg producers and veterinary scientists are working hard to find solutions to the global bird flu outbreak and protect both domestic and wild birds from it. If the gaps in the supply chain can be prevented, then hopefully the price of eggs will reduce again, not to mention saving the lives of millions of birds.

• Lucy Richardson graduated from Edinburgh University in 2005. She started CedarTree Vets in August 2012 with her husband, Mark. They live at the practice with their two children, Ray and Stella, and their dog, two cats and two guinea pigs. She is also the FEI national head veterinarian for Bermuda