California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to the H5N1 virus, commonly known as avian influenza or bird flu.
The state of emergency is in response to an outbreak of the virus among dairy cows at a Southern California farm, according to a news release on the governor's website.
Bird flu has been confirmed in cattle in 16 U.S. states after it was first reported in Texas and Kansas in March, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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There have been no human cases of avian influenza in California, and all infections have been linked to exposure to infected cattle, the statement said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to the H5N1 virus, commonly known as avian influenza or bird flu. (St. Petersburg)
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure our agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to quickly respond 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 the 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 our agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to quickly respond to this outbreak,” Governor Newsom said in a statement. (Tamamario)
Also Wednesday, the first human case of severe avian influenza was confirmed in Louisiana, according to the CDC.
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Health authorities insisted that the “current public health risk is low” but said they were “closely monitoring the situation”.
