Gov. Gavin Newsom declares state of emergency in California over bird flu

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency over the bird flu, in order to streamline the state's response to the virus.

The governor's office said the declaration comes after the virus was detected in dairy farms in Southern California, but there has been no person-to-person spread of the virus in the state so far. 

“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak," the governor said in 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.

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

The bird flu has spread to dairy cattle in 16 states so far, including Texas and Kansas, where the outbreak was first detected in March of 2024. 

Although it is more common in animals, the virus can spread to humans. But only one person has been hospitalized with a severe case of the bird flu so far. The hospitalization occurred on Wednesday in Louisiana, according to officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There have been a total of 61 confirmed cases of the virus in humans thus far, and seven probable cases, according to The Guardian. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.