California declares state of emergency over bird flu

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency Wednesday in response to detection of bird flu in dairy cows, stating this action will streamline the state's response.

Newsom's office stated the declaration will give state and local agencies "additional flexibility around staffing, contracting, and other rules to support California’s evolving response." There have so far been 34 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in California since the first infections were detected in other states earlier this year.

No human-to-human transmission has been detected yet, and all cases were linked to exposure to infected cattle. Last week, it was reported that a California child had developed a suspected case of bird flu shortly after drinking raw milk. This case was detected last month and the child has since recovered.

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak," Newsom said in the announcement.

"Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information," he added.

"While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”

The spread of bird flu in the U.S. has been a constant but low threat for much of 2024. Federal authorities have maintained that the risk to the general public is low and have concentrated efforts on mitigating spread to farmworkers.

In 2024, there have been 61 confirmed cases of bird flu across the country.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the first severe case of the H5N1 bird flu Wednesday after confirming the infection last week. The case was in Louisiana and occurred after the patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. This virus differs from the type found in cattle.

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