As the H5N1 bird flu sweeps across the nation, health officials are sounding the alarm against the deadly virus. California, the nation's most populous state, has declared a state of emergency after the virus struck hundreds of dairy herds, while Louisiana reports the first severe human case in a hospitalized patient.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday to "streamline and expedite the state's response" to a growing outbreak of H5N1 bird flu among dairy cows in Southern California. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 865 dairy herds across the U.S. have been affected, with California accounting for a staggering 645 cases since August.
