Newsom declares emergency in California after severe bird flu case confirmed in Louisiana

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Posted on 12/19/2024 3:09:10 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Wednesday as the H5N1 bird flu virus moved from the Central Valley to Southern California dairy herds, while federal officials confirmed the first U.S. case of severe illness in a hospitalized Louisiana patient — a concerning development as the virus continues to spread throughout the nation via migrating birds.

The declaration by Newsom will allow for a more streamlined approach among state and local agencies to tackle the virus, providing “flexibility around staffing, contracting, and other rules to support California’s evolving response,” according to a statement.

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

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 645 dairy herds in California have reportedly been infected with the H5N1 virus since August. Nationwide, the number is 865 and stretches back to March, when the virus was first detected in Texas herds.

There have also been a number of infections identified in pet cats in California, including three announced on Wednesday.

According to the CDC, 61 people have acquired the virus since March — the vast majority at dairies or commercial poultry operations. Most suffered from mild illness, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye, and upper respiratory irritation.

In California, 34 people have become infected with H5N1, with all but one contracting the virus from infected dairy. The outlier was a child in Alameda County; the source of that infection has not been determined. There was also a suspected case in a child from...

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...

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Just in time.

To: E. Pluribus Unum

2 posted on 12/19/2024 3:10:00 PM PST by Agatsu77

To: E. Pluribus Unum

3 posted on 12/19/2024 3:12:54 PM PST by jimtorr

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