The price of eggs in South Korea shows signs of skyrocketing amid the continuous spreading of avian influenza(AV).  
 
According to the local wholesale industry on Wednesday, the price of one egg was 176 won as of December first, up 66 percent from the same period last year, when it was priced at 106 won.
 
The rise is attributed to a sharp decrease in the number of chickens laying eggs due to a massive poultry culling that has continued since late last month.
 
The price of one egg had been maintained around 100 won to 120 won between December last year and the summer of this year, but it jumped sharply in recent weeks amid the spread of AV.
 
Also the number of egg-laying hens was maintained at 75 million until the summer, but it dropped by three to four million between August and September due to heat wave.
 
The number further decreased to between 68 and 67 million since the authorities began culling poultry amid bird flu concerns in late November.