California Declares State of Emergency as Bird Flu Spreads to Dairy Cattle and Infections Rise in People

California officials have declared a state of emergency in response to the rapid spread of bird flu, which has now affected dairy cattle across the state and led to sporadic human infections. The virus, known as Type A H5N1, was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March and has since been confirmed in at least 866 herds across 16 states. The outbreak has raised significant concerns, especially as the virus has spread from wild birds and commercial poultry to mammals, including dairy cows.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state of emergency to provide state agencies with the resources and flexibility needed to tackle the ongoing crisis. California has focused efforts on detecting the virus in large milk tanks during processing, with confirmed cases in at least 650 dairy herds, representing roughly three-quarters of all affected U.S. dairy herds. The virus was first detected in the state’s Central Valley in August and has recently been found in Southern California dairy farms.

While health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reassured the public that the virus poses a low risk to humans, the recent detection of severe illness in a Louisiana patient has raised alarms. This individual, an older adult with underlying health conditions, is in critical condition after developing severe respiratory symptoms following exposure to a flock of sick backyard birds. This is the first known case of severe illness linked to the bird flu in the U.S.

Although the virus has caused mild illnesses in more than 60 people across eight states, health experts continue to monitor the situation closely. There have been no reports of person-to-person transmission, and experts, including Richard Webby of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, warn that it’s still unclear how the virus might evolve. “We don’t know yet what trajectory this outbreak might take,” Webby said.

Despite these uncertainties, experts emphasize the importance of remaining vigilant as flu viruses constantly mutate, and small genetic changes could potentially increase the virus’s ability to spread more easily among humans. Health authorities continue to urge the public to remain cautious while stressing that the risk remains low.