California declares state of emergency over bird flu

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) officially declared a state of emergency over bird flu concerns Wednesday, a step he said was necessary to prevent the spread of the virus.

The bird flu disease – known as Type A H5N1 – has already appeared among dairy cattle in 16 states and has been spreading rapidly in California, Newsom said in a news release. The state’s agriculture department found the virus in 645 dairies — about half of which were identified in the last 30 days, The New York Times reported.

Newsom’s action comes as the first severe bird flu case requiring hospitalization in the United States was reported in Louisiana, the publication added.

“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 Wednesday. “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.”

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Newsom added that the emergency proclamation gives state and local agencies additional resources to control the outbreak, including “flexibility around staffing, contracting, and other rules to support California’s evolving response.”

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

Texas is thought to have been the starting ground for the outbreak in dairy cattle early this year, according to the Times. It added that 865 infected herds have been identified throughout 16 states as of Wednesday.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also confirmed H5N1 infection in 61 people, and indicated another seven as ‘probable’ cases,” according to the publication.