California declares avian influenza emergency

After the news that an individual in Louisiana has been hospitalized for the first serious case of avian influenza in humans in the United States, California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for avian influenza among dairy cattle, confirming the increasing severity of the spread of contagion within the country. Since the first detection of an infected herd at the end of August, the state Department of Agriculture has found the virus in 645 dairy farms, about half of which only in the last 30 days. The emergency declaration provides state and local authorities with the resources they need to contain the epidemic, including hiring staff or issuing contracts. Although the risk to the population remains low, all necessary measures will continue to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus, the state Governor added.