A growing outbreak of bird flu among cattle has prompted California Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. The virus, H5N1, has been detected in 645 dairy herds across the state, more than in any other US state so far. This is the largest number of infected dairy farms in the country.
The declaration comes as the bird flu outbreak spreads beyond cattle to people, with 61 confirmed cases reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The risk to humans remains low, but experts warn that each new infection increases the likelihood of the virus evolving to infect humans better.
California has taken proactive steps to contain the outbreak. The state’s agriculture department has recalled raw milk products from two companies after detecting the virus in samples. California is also increasing its testing and monitoring capabilities to prevent further spread.
The declaration of an emergency will allow California authorities to hire additional staff and issue new contracts to tackle the outbreak. Experts praise the move as a necessary step to contain the spread of the virus.
The outbreak began in Texas early this year and has since spread to 16 states, with nearly half of the confirmed cases reported in California. The CDC has identified H5N1 as the cause of these cases, mostly linked to exposure to infected animals or unknown sources.
Seasonal flu vaccines do not protect against bird flu. While there is a national stockpile of vaccine doses, experts are developing new vaccines for use in people and cattle.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/health/bird-flu-emergency-california.html