Governor Newsom declares state of emergency in California due to bird flu

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to H5N1, more commonly known as bird flu or bird flu.

The emergency follows an outbreak of the virus among dairy cows on Southern California farms, according to the press release on the governor’s website.

After first being reported in Texas and Kansas in March, bird flu has been confirmed in cattle in 16 US states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

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There have been no cases of human transmission of bird flu in California, the release said, with all infections linked to exposure to infected cattle.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to H5N1, more commonly known as bird flu or bird flu. (iStock)

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure that state agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Governor Newsom said in a statement.

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“Building on California’s testing and surveillance system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agricultural industry and ensuring Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information,” he continued.

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“While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure that state agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. (Mario Tama)

Also Wednesday, the first case of severe bird flu was confirmed in a human patient in Louisiana, according to the CDC.

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The National Health Service maintains that “the current risk to public health is low,” but said it is “monitoring the situation closely.”