state of emergency declared in California

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, December 18, to strengthen the fight against avian flu. The epizootic, detected in March in Texas and Kansas among dairy cattle, has spread to sixteen states, and particularly affects California, where more than 600 dairy herds and thirty-four people have been infected since the spring. “While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary measures to prevent the spread” of the virus, insisted Mr. Newsom in a press release.

As in the case of natural disasters, the proclamation of a state of emergency is a measure that allows more resources and flexibility to be granted to local agencies responsible for the fight against the H5N1 virus. “Building on the testing and surveillance system of California – the largest state in the country – we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agricultural industry and providing Californians with accurate and reliable information. updated. »

This decision came as federal health authorities had just confirmed the first serious case of transmission of the H5N1 virus to humans in the country. The patient, hospitalized in Louisiana, is number 61^e human case of avian flu detected since April in the country. Aged over 65 and suffering from chronic health problems, he contracted the virus by coming into contact with infected or dead birds from a farm in his garden, according to the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Control , the authority in charge of public health in the United States.

A genomic study indicated that the virus that infected him – a variation different from that detected among cows – was the same type that infected individuals in Washington state, Canada. Until now, those affected had only been slightly affected.