California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to the outbreak of bird flu among dairy cows. The virus, which has caused over 120 million bird deaths nationwide since 2022, is also spreading rapidly among farmworkers.
To address concerns about human transmission, organizations such as Project Protect and the Colorado State University agricultural health and safety center are providing critical information and protective equipment to workers in need. However, some workers have reported limited access to information and resources, particularly those who are undocumented immigrants.
Despite efforts by state officials and industry partners to protect animal and worker health, concerns remain about the spread of the virus among dairy farms. Mandatory testing for bulk milk samples has shown promising results, but more work is needed to fully understand the long-term impact of the disease on infected herds.
Farmworkers have expressed a need for better information, paid sick leave, and access to clinics, as well as concerns about their immigration status affecting their ability to report illnesses. Industry leaders say that free resources provided by the state and employers are available to protect workers, but some workers reported lack of support.
Federal regulators have taken notice of Colorado’s efforts and announced mandatory milk testing for the first time, acknowledging that more work is needed to combat the spread of this disease.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/colorado-dairy-farms-face-calls-to-keep-workers-safe-as-bird-flu-spreads-among-cows