- विज्ञापन -
California: On December 19, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in response to the outbreak of Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu. This decision comes as 34 individuals in the state have been infected, with recent cases reported in dairy cows in Southern California. The governor’s office noted the need for enhanced monitoring and a coordinated statewide strategy to control and mitigate the virus’s spread.
So far, there have been no instances of person-to-person transmission of the bird flu in California. Most infected individuals had direct exposure to infected cattle, according to the press release. California has implemented the largest testing and monitoring system in the nation to address the outbreak, as reported by Xinhua.
As of Wednesday, the H5N1 virus has affected dairy cattle in 16 states, beginning with confirmed cases in Texas and Kansas in March 2024. Nationwide, there have been 61 human cases of H5N1 since April, including a severe case reported in a Louisiana hospital.
To protect dairy farm workers, California’s Department of Public Health is distributing protective gear and advising those handling cows or raw milk to use it to reduce their risk of exposure. The bird flu was first discovered in the US wild bird population in South Carolina in January 2022, and in California, it was detected among wild birds in July 2022.
