California Faces Escalating Bird Flu Threat as Human Cases Increase
Click to start listening
Sacramento, Dec 26 (NationPress) California's struggle with avian influenza A (H5N1) has escalated as infections proliferate across dairy farms and the number of human cases rises, including two newly confirmed cases in Stanislaus and Los Angeles counties.
The virus, widely referred to as bird flu, has impacted 659 of California's 984 dairy operations since August, with a significant one-quarter of these incidents occurring in the past month alone, as reported by California officials.
The swift transmission through the state's dairy sector prompted Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency last week to safeguard agricultural workers and public health, according to Xinhua news agency.
"This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak," Newsom stated.
The outbreak's impact on humans has intensified, with California reporting at least 36 confirmed cases—accounting for over half of the nation's total of 65, based on the latest report from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday. However, the actual number may be higher as recent local confirmations may not yet be reflected in federal data.
Two new cases were confirmed on Monday in California's Los Angeles County and Stanislaus County. Both individuals were exposed to livestock infected with bird flu at a worksite, exhibiting mild symptoms and receiving antiviral treatment, according to the health departments of both counties.
Public health officials have been monitoring wastewater throughout the state, discovering the virus in multiple locations across the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Napa, and San Jose. However, California State Epidemiologist Erica Pan explained to ABC30 that these findings might largely stem from "residential or other commercial milk dumping down in the sinks."
While health officials indicate that the risk remains low for the general populace, the virus is lethal to 90% to 100% of infected poultry and approximately 1% to 2% of cows. California State Veterinarian Annette M. Jones remarked that infected cows may never fully recover.
As the nation's largest producer of dairy, California is facing significant economic repercussions from the bird flu outbreak. The virus has necessitated quarantines and heightened testing protocols. Authorities disclose that the state is now testing its 1.7 million cows weekly.
California's milk production fell by 9.2% in November compared to the same month last year, marking the steepest decline recorded, as per the monthly Milk Production Report released by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on December 19. Concurrently, California's reduced output has resulted in a 1% decrease in national milk production, raising alarms about the availability and costs of US dairy products.
The state's poultry sector has also suffered significantly. The California Department of Food and Agriculture reported that 51 commercial poultry operations and nine backyard flocks throughout the state have been affected.
The virus has emerged in unexpected areas, with Los Angeles County confirming two cases in domestic cats that ingested contaminated raw milk.
Los Angeles County health officials cautioned against feeding pets raw food on Tuesday after samples of bird flu virus were detected in one brand, noting that a house cat in Oregon had died from consuming the recalled raw frozen pet food.
Worker safety has become a pressing concern, with the state distributing over 4 million pieces of personal protective equipment. Nevertheless, Elizabeth Strater, a spokesperson for United Farm Workers, indicated to health news site STAT that many workers are reluctant to get tested or report symptoms due to concerns over wages.
"Currently, it's a risky proposition for workers," she stated, advocating for compensation for testing and wage protection for those who test positive.
The USDA has introduced new containment strategies, including a mandatory national milk testing program announced on December 6. However, some experts expressed doubts regarding the adequacy of these measures.
Seema Lakdawala, an associate professor at Emory University's School of Medicine, informed STAT that while the new testing strategy would enhance understanding of the virus's spread, it may be "arriving too late"—nine months into the outbreak.
The state is investigating transmission patterns through 40 research projects. "Honestly, there's probably more we don't understand than we actually do know" about how the virus spreads among farms, said Mike Payne, a food animal veterinarian at University of California, Davis.
