Dive Brief:
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday issued a state of emergency in response to a worsening bird flu outbreak that’s affected hundreds of dairy herds.
- The action will ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need around staffing, contracting and other rules to support the state’s response to the outbreak, according to the emergency proclamation.
- Statewide, bird flu has spread to 641 dairies in nine counties since late August, when the first detections in cattle emerged. It has infected 34 people in California to date. The first severe case was reported in Louisiana this week.
Dive Insight:
Newsom said a shift from regional containment to statewide monitoring was necessary, citing livestock infections at four Southern California dairies on Dec. 12. The state has already taken steps to address the bird flu virus, including enhanced testing of raw milk and livestock.
“Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information,” Newsom said in a statement.
As California enacted its emergency order, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first severe illness in a person due to bird flu in Louisiana, sparking public health concerns.
“While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus,” Newsom added.
To date, no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected in the U.S. The CDC has confirmed 61 human cases linked to bird flu across eight states as of Dec. 19.
California, the nation’s largest milk-producing state, expanded testing efforts after two raw milk processors recalled their products this month following positive detection of the virus. That coincided with the USDA expanding its national milk testing strategy to help identify potentially affected herds and where the disease is present.
The current bird flu outbreak began in 2022, though it made the jump to dairy cows earlier this year. It has since infected more than 120 million birds, including commercial and backyard flocks, and has pushed up the price of eggs.