California officials have declared a state of emergency due to the spread of bird flu among dairy cows in the state, resulting in sporadic illnesses in people across the US. The virus, Type A H5N, has been spreading through wild birds, commercial poultry, and mammals for years. Since its first detection in US dairy cattle in March, bird flu has been confirmed in over 800 herds in 16 states, with more than 60 people infected, mostly farmworkers with direct exposure to infected animals.
The emergency declaration allows California to mobilize resources to respond to the outbreak, with the majority of infected herds in the country located in the state. Health officials stress that the virus currently poses low risk to the general public, but recent severe cases highlight the potential danger. Experts are concerned about the virus’s potential mutations and its impact on human health. While there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission, experts warn that flu viruses are constantly evolving, and it is still uncertain how the outbreak will progress.
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