California Declares State of Emergency Over H5N1 Bird Flu
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to the rapid spread of H5N1 bird flu, as concerns mount over the virus’s potential to trigger a human pandemic.
The declaration comes as the state grapples with widespread infections in dairy herds and reports of human cases, coinciding with the nation’s first severe H5N1 hospitalization in Louisiana.
Multiple news outlets have reported that the emergency declaration mobilizes state and local resources to combat the outbreak, enabling swift action in securing testing capabilities and protective equipment.
California’s dairy industry has been hit particularly hard, with 645 herds testing positive for H5N1 since late August.
Nearly half of these cases emerged in the past month alone, indicating an accelerating crisis.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom stated, as outlined by the Daily Mail.
The governor emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting public health while supporting the agricultural sector.
The situation has become increasingly concerning as California reports 34 of the nation’s 61 confirmed human cases of bird flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low, with no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Experts characterize the outbreak as a pandemic “unfolding in slow motion,” however.
Daily Mail highlighted that the virus has spread beyond California’s borders, affecting 865 dairy herds across 16 states.
The outbreak’s origin has been traced to Texas, where it first appeared in cattle early this year.
Health experts worry that continued spread could lead to viral mutations, potentially enabling easier human transmission.
The U.S. government reports maintaining a stockpile of approximately 20 million bird flu vaccines, per Daily Mail.
The outlet further noted that the government has the capability to produce 100 million more if needed.
TTOA reported on these bird flu vaccines back in May, highlighting that federal health officials were ramping up efforts to combat the growing threat of H5N1; a story that quickly raised alarm bells on social media.
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) stated earlier this year that the government planned to increase nationwide influenza surveillance following the identification of two human bird flu cases in Michigan and Australia.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed in an April announcement that traces of the bird flu virus have been detected in one out of five pasteurized milk samples, Resist the Mainstream outlined.
This news shed light on the extent of contamination within the milk supply.
The vaccines are reportedly well-matched to the current H5N1 strain. Antiviral medications, including oseltamivir, are also available for treatment.
The Louisiana case marks a significant development, as the patient became severely ill after contact with infected backyard poultry.
Officials identified the D1.1 strain in this case, which differs from the variant currently affecting cattle.
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