California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Wednesday to address the rapid rise of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu in the state, particularly in the Central Valley. While there have been no instances detected of person-to-person spread of bird flu, California has become the most impacted state because of outbreaks involving cattle and poultry.According to the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus has spread in 16 states among dairy cattle. The first confirmed cases were reported in March 2024 in Texas and Kansas. A person in Louisiana became the first person to have a severe illness, health officials said on Wednesday. Previous cases have been mild.Bird flu was detected in 54 commercial poultry flocks, and 40 backyard flocks, for a total of more than 14.55 million birds within the last 30 days, according to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.There have been 61 total reported cases of bird flu infections in humans during the outbreak so far in 2024, according to the CDC. Thirty-four cases have been in California. All but one of the California exposures are believed to have been associated with dairy herds.That one case was infection in a child in the United States. Consistent with previously identified human cases in the United States, the child reportedly experienced mild symptoms and received flu antivirals.Federal data show 2.8 million commercial egg-producing birds were affected by the virus in Merced County on Dec. 5. In Kern County, 2.15 million birds were affected on Nov. 12.Federal data shows California is also the most impacted state with confirmed cases in livestock. In the last 30 days, there were 313 new confirmed cases in dairy milking premises.Newsom's office said the emergency proclamation will give state and local agencies flexibility around staffing, contracting and other rules to help with the response. | PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Highly contagious bird flu found at Wilton poultry farm, California officials confirm"This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak. 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," Newsom said. "While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”KCRA 3 reached out to the California Department of Public Health regarding the state of emergency. The CDPH said that the risk for the general public of contracting bird flu remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cattle are at a higher risk and need to take precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment. Anyone who becomes sick while working with animals or who has been in close contact with an infected should talk to a medical provider about getting tested. (Video below: Here's what to know about the bird flu in California.)See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter