California Gov. Newsom Declares State of Emergency Over Bird Flu

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2024. Eric Thayer/AP Photo

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency over avian influenza, saying that the order was issued as a precaution.

It comes as a person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the first severe illness caused by bird flu in the United States, health officials separately said on Dec. 18. The patient is in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms, authorities have said.

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a Dec. 18 statement about the emergency.

Bird flu cases have been found in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, the governor’s office said, adding that enhanced monitoring is needed to “contain and mitigate the spread of the virus.”

However, there have been no reported cases of person-to-person transmission in California, according to his office, and people who have been exposed to the virus in the state were exposed to infected cows. California’s Department of Public Health, in an update on Dec. 13, reported that 33 cows have so far tested positive for the virus.

California has also sent protective gear to dairy farms and their workers, advising people who work with cows or raw milk to use the gear to mitigate the risk of contracting the virus, according to the state Department of Public Health’s website.

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

The emergency declaration will provide state and local agencies with more funding and flexibility in dealing with the virus, according to his office.

While not linked to human bird flu cases, a raw milk dairy based in California issued a voluntary recall several weeks ago after avian influenza was found in a lot.

All of the illnesses in the United States, except for the Louisiana case, have been mild, and the vast majority have been among farmworkers exposed to sick poultry or dairy cows. This year, more than 60 bird flu infections have been reported, with more than half of them in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the Louisiana case, the infected person is older than 65, has underlying medical problems, and has also been in contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock, according to the CDC.

Last month, Canadian officials reported that a teen in British Columbia was hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu. CDC officials did not answer a question about whether the new U.S. case and the case in Canada had any similarities or differences, directing reporters to ask Louisiana officials.

Health officials say bird flu is still mainly an animal health issue and that the risk to the general public remains low. There has been no documented spread of the virus from person to person in the United States or elsewhere.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.