California Declares State of Emergency Over Bird Flu Outbreak in Dairy Cows

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to the detection of bird flu in dairy cows, aiming to streamline the state's efforts to manage the outbreak.

The governor's office explained that the declaration would provide state and local agencies with greater flexibility regarding staffing, contracting, and other regulations, enhancing the state’s ability to respond effectively. As of now, California has reported 34 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans, following outbreaks in other states earlier this year.

There have been no reports of human-to-human transmission, with all cases traced to direct exposure to infected cattle. A recent incident involved a child who developed a suspected bird flu case after consuming raw milk. Fortunately, the child has since recovered.

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“This declaration is a targeted measure to ensure that agencies have the necessary resources and flexibility to respond swiftly,” said Governor Newsom in his announcement. “We will continue to build on California’s robust testing and monitoring systems to safeguard public health, support our agriculture industry, and provide Californians with accurate, up-to-date information.”

While health authorities emphasize that the risk to the public remains low, Newsom assured that the state is taking all necessary steps to prevent further spread of the virus.

The bird flu has posed a persistent but low risk throughout 2024 in the U.S. Federal officials continue to emphasize the low risk to the general public, focusing efforts on protecting farmworkers. So far, there have been 61 confirmed cases nationwide.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu on Wednesday, confirming the infection in Louisiana, which occurred after exposure to sick and dead birds. However, this strain differs from the one affecting cattle.