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The Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency after cases of avian influenza (H5N1) were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California. This is a measure to expedite and expand coordinated monitoring, which seeks to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus.
The avian influenza virus (H5N1), better known as “bird flu,” has spread across 16 states within the dairy cattle industry, so the emergency proclamation gives state and local agencies the opportunity to prepare for staffing, hiring and other measures to respond in a timely manner.
“This proclamation is an action aimed at ensuring that government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to quickly respond to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement.
The official said the state is committed to further protecting public health, supporting the agricultural industry and ensuring Californians have access to accurate and up-to-date information.
He added that while the risk to the public remains low, they will continue to take all necessary measures to prevent the spread of this virus.
The release said California has implemented a comprehensive, interagency response to avian influenza on dairy and poultry farms to minimize farmworker exposure, reduce contamination of raw dairy products and mitigate the spread of the virus.
He also stressed that coordinated efforts are being made at the local, state and federal levels to remain alert, educating the public, health professionals, employers and workers on prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of exposure to avian influenza.
Another measure being taken, officials said, is access to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seasonal flu vaccine to reduce concurrent flu risks.
Also noted are coordinated public awareness efforts between the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES), and other state agencies that maintain timely public updates, as well as multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, targeted social media efforts to promote preventative practices, print and online resources for the public, and media interviews to keep Californians informed.
The first detected case of infection by the H5N1 avian influenza virus in a human being was in a child in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed it and reported that the child had mild symptoms and received antiviral medications against influenza while being monitored.
The child's family members were found to have symptoms and were tested negative for the avian influenza virus, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said.
According to the CDC risk assessment, the likelihood of human-to-human transmission is low, however, people with exposure to infected or possibly infected animals, such as poultry, dairy cows, or other animals such as livestock, are at higher risk.
Therefore, they recommend avoiding unprotected exposure to sick or dead animals, including wild and poultry birds, as well as other domesticated birds and wild or domesticated animals..
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