KUALA LUMPUR – The United States’ battle against avian influenza A (H5N1) has escalated, with infections spreading across California’s dairy farms and an increasing number of human cases.
This week, two new human infections were confirmed in Stanislaus and Los Angeles, according to Xinhua.
The outbreak has heavily impacted California’s dairy industry, with 659 of the state’s 984 dairy operations affected since August. Alarmingly, one-quarter of these cases emerged within the past month, state authorities said.
Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last week to safeguard agricultural workers and public health.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement.
Human infections have also risen, with California reporting 36 confirmed cases – more than half of the United States’ total of 65, according to the latest data from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, the actual count may be higher, as recent local confirmations may not yet appear in federal data.
The two latest cases involved individuals exposed to infected livestock at their worksites. Both experienced mild symptoms and were treated with antiviral medications, the health departments in Los Angeles and Stanislaus counties confirmed.
Public health officials are monitoring wastewater across the state, with the virus detected in locations such as San Francisco, Napa, and San José. California State Epidemiologist Erica Pan told ABC30 that these detections might be linked to “residential or other commercial milk dumping down in the sinks.”
While officials have said that the risk to the general public remains low, the virus has devastating effects on livestock. It kills 90 to 100% of infected poultry and 1 to 2% of cows. State Veterinarian Annette M. Jones noted that infected cows may never fully recover.
As the largest dairy-producing state in the US, California has suffered significant economic consequences. Milk production in November dropped 9.2% compared to the same month last year – the largest recorded decline – according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Milk Production Report.
This drop has led to a 1% decrease in national milk production, sparking concerns about dairy product availability and costs.
The poultry industry has also been severely impacted. The California Food and Agriculture Department reported that 51 commercial poultry operations and nine backyard flocks across the state have been affected.
The outbreak’s reach has also extended beyond California. At a wildlife sanctuary in Washington state, 20 big cats – including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars – succumbed to the virus between late November and mid-December, according to Xinhua.
“We’ve never had anything like it; they usually die basically of old age,” said Mark Mathews, founder and director of the Wild Felid Advocacy Centre in Shelton, Washington. “Not something like this, it’s a pretty wicked virus.”
The sanctuary reported that three other cats recovered, while one remains in critical condition. The facility has been placed under quarantine, and habitats are being sanitised.
“The virus began to present itself in November within the cougar population, with several cats developing pneumonia-like symptoms. Within days, other species began to show signs of illness,” The New York Times reported on Tuesday.
The USDA has implemented containment measures, including a mandatory national milk testing programme announced on December 6. However, some experts have questioned whether these measures will be enough. – December 26, 2024