(NEXSTAR) – Eggs are nearly 40% more expensive now than they were a year ago, the Labor Department said this week. It's about to get even worse, one expert says.

Patrick Penfield, a professor and supply chain expert at Syracuse University's School of Management, expects egg prices could climb as much as 20% more in 2025 as the avian flu epidemic shows no signs of slowing down.

The massive bird flu outbreak has already led to the death of more than 100 million egg-laying hens. Anytime the virus is detected, every bird on the farm has to be killed to limit the spread of the disease.