California Department of Food and Agriculture reports or verified economic data sources

H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreaks Impact 67% of CA Dairy Herds, Cause Economic Concerns, and Infect 64 Humans

Dec 23, 2024, 10:00 PM

The H5N1 avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has caused significant outbreaks across the United States, affecting various species and leading to economic and health concerns. In California, 67% of the state's 984 dairy herds have been infected since late August, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. The virus has also been detected in a poultry worker in Iowa, multiple cats, wild birds, and poultry across several states. In Mississippi, a commercial breeder chicken flock in Greene County tested positive, affecting 26,000 birds. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has issued new guidelines for surveillance of H5N1 in cattle, warning of potential spillover to humans. Egg prices have surged, with wholesale prices up 150% from a year ago, and media reports indicate a 38% increase in egg prices and a 9.2% drop in California's milk production in November compared to the previous year. The virus has also been detected in wild birds in Montana, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia, and in domestic and feral cats in Oregon and Utah, respectively. The situation has raised alarms in the finance world due to its economic impact. There have been 64 human infections and 26 species affected, with a reported fatality rate of 50%.