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. 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. To date, no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected in the U.S.
Welcome
