Millions of egg-laying hens have been lost due to the bird flu, causing egg production to slow and prices to skyrocket. Here’s what to know about whether eggs are safe to eat — and what to try if grocery store shelves are empty.

Over the past 60 years, the influenza virus has continued to drift and shift. In 1968, a shift once again caused a pandemic. In 1976 and 2009, concerns that the virus had shifted led to [fears that a new pandemic loomed]. But Americans were lucky once again.

Experts say it is safe to eat fully cooked eggs to prevent the H5N1 virus or foodborne illnesses like salmonella. Here’s what it means to fully cook your eggs, the difference between pasteurized and unpasteurized eggs,

Researchers have stressed that bird flu still poses a minimal risk to the general public, though that may change as the virus continues to circulate and potentially mutate. But the many empty shelves in stores and higher prices on the eggs that people can find have raised concerns among consumers about the safety of the egg supply.

That said, the cost of eggs isn't the only issue at stake with an avian flu epidemic: There are a lot of questions about whether eating eggs can get you sick amid the outbreak. Is