What California's emergency declaration over bird flu means

California officials declared a state of emergency as the H5N1 bird flu virus spreads through dairy farms, while health experts maintain the risk to the general public remains low.

Since August, the virus has infected 645 dairy operations in California and reached herds in 15 other states, prompting increased surveillance and protective measures for farm workers at risk of exposure.

Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that the emergency declaration was "a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 61 human cases of bird flu in the United States this year, with 37 cases linked to contact with infected cattle. Most patients experienced mild symptoms, including pink eye, fever, and muscle aches.

One severe case emerged in Louisiana, where health officials confirmed a patient was hospitalized after exposure to backyard poultry. The CDC noted this case involved a strain found in birds, not the variant currently affecting dairy cattle.

Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, said the primary concern centers on the virus spreading between dairy farms rather than human transmission.

"I've been sleeping with one eye open about this virus for many years," Osterholm said, emphasizing the importance of monitoring its spread while noting no evidence exists of human-to-human transmission.

Health officials recommend that workers at dairy farms wear personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, and safety goggles, due to their increased exposure risk.

"If you're not working directly with animals right now, it would not be the top thing that I'd be worried about," said Dr. Gail Hansen, a veterinary public health expert in Washington D.C. "It's unlikely right now that's going to be a problem for most people."

Scientists watch for potential mutations as the virus infects new hosts. Stacey L. Schultz-Cherry, virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, warned about risks during flu season when viruses can exchange genetic material.

"The biggest fear for any of us is that you get the wrong person, bird, animal, whatever infected with a human seasonal and one of those bird strains, and those viruses are able to do what they do best, which is genetically swap components," Schultz-Cherry said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture increased testing of raw milk products after authorities detected the virus in retail samples from two California producers, who subsequently recalled their products.

While no human cases have been linked to consuming raw milk, scientists believe farm workers may have contracted the virus through contact with raw milk droplets.

Meghan Davis, veterinarian and environmental epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, advised keeping backyard poultry away from wild birds and preventing pets, especially cats, from contact with wild birds after reports of feline infections.

Matthew Moore, associate professor of food science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said pasteurized milk remains safe for consumption, but consumers should avoid raw milk products.

"This could be a problem - don't completely write it off," Moore said. "But right now, there's no reason to panic or really do anything beyond avoid raw milk products."

Officials stress that the situation differs from previous bird flu outbreaks in that it primarily affects cattle rather than poultry. The CDC maintains active surveillance of human cases while researchers study the virus' behavior in dairy herds.