California has declared a state of emergency after it reportedly has the country’s highest rate of H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu, affecting dairy cattle. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation Wednesday, Dec. 18, to “further enhance the state’s preparedness and accelerate the ongoing cross-agency response efforts” to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The state’s Department of Food and Agriculture is reporting 645 infected dairy herds. 311 of those detected are in the last 30 days. California is now experiencing more bird flu outbreaks in cattle than any other state.

Newsom said, “This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need.”

The state of emergency follows a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which confirmed the first severe human case of bird flu in the U.S. The patient, hospitalized in Louisiana, caught H5N1.

However, the CDC notes that this particular genotype of the virus differs from the one currently found in dairy cattle.

While the source of the patient’s infection remains unclear, the CDC confirms the patient was in close proximity to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.

To protect yourself, the CDC advises avoiding contact with sick or dead birds, particularly wild birds and poultry. The agency also warns against touching surfaces or materials contaminated with bodily fluids from birds or other animals suspected of being infected with avian influenza.

So far, there are 61 reports of human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The CDC also states there have been no cases of person-to-person transmission of the virus. Pasteurized milk remains safe to consume.

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