A US state declares a state of emergency over bird flu

Federal and state officials have failed to contain a nationwide outbreak of avian influenza, which first infected dairy cows in 2024, as some farmers resisted testing and containment measures. Test tubes labeled "Bird Flu" - Photo: Reuter In California, the top US dairy state, 649 herds have tested positive since late August, about 60% of the state's total herd. Four Southern California dairies tested positive on Dec. 12, "requiring a shift from regional containment to statewide surveillance and response," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in his emergency declaration. Newsom said the declaration was intended to streamline and speed up California's response by allowing more flexibility in staffing, contracts and other rules. Earlier, on December 18, the US reported its first serious case of bird flu in humans. Specifically, a Louisiana resident was hospitalized in critical condition after suspected exposure to an infected flock of poultry in his backyard. Demetre Daskalakis, ...