CALIFORNIA—On December 18, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency due to the number of positive cases of the Avian Bird Flu found in the state of California.
Multiple news reports indicate that there have been 61 confirmed cases of humans infected with the Bird Flu in the United States, 34 of those infected are Californians.
In his State of Emergency, Newsom stated, “This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak.”
Between September 17 and December17 the bird flu was detected in dairy cows in the California Central Valley.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) issued a press release on December 18, indicating that there were H5 Bird Flu cases detected in Los Angeles County in cats who consumed raw recalled milk from Raw Farm LLC. There were two cats infected from different households. The cats were also infected with influenza type A and have since died. Other pets in the home have been quarantined.
Other cats are under investigation for suspicion of flu infection. As of December 18, there have been no reported /confirmed cases of Bird Flu in humans residing in Los Angeles County.
According to a December 19 press release by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), following an investigation by CDFA and rapid disease detection by California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s, National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in commercial [animal] flock in Merced County causing “moving restrictions in nine counties including: Fresno, Kern, Marin, Merced, Monterrey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tulare”.
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, PhD., M.P.H., M.Ed., Director of the LACDPH made the following statement regarding being infected with the H5 Bird Flu:
“The risk of H5 bird flu remains low in Los Angeles County, but these confirmed cases of the virus in pet cats are a reminder that consuming raw dairy and meat products can lead to severe illness in cats.
To avoid the spread of disease, including H5 bird flu, we strongly encourage residents and the pets to avoid raw dairy and undercooked meat products, limit contact with sick or dead animals, report sick or dead birds and keep pets or poultry away from wild animals and birds.”
It is not clear where if any of the aforementioned 34 cases of bird flu truly infected residents of California. The following quote came directly from the LACDPH webpage:
Over the past few years, public health officials have been tracking an outbreak of H5 bird flu in the U.S., which has affected various animals, including wild mammals, domestic pets, and, more recently, dairy cattle. The first human case in the U.S. occurred in 2022, and since March 2024, H5 bird flu has been detected in cattle, including in California. Human infections are rare and the overall risk to the public remains low, but individuals who work closely with animals are at a greater risk.”
Typical symptoms of the H5 bird flu in humans include, but are not limited to; runny nose, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
