Newsom declares H5N1 emergency

WLJ Dec. 26, 2024 1 minute read 1 comments

Newsom declares H5N1 emergency — Backyard chickens are at risk of being exposed to avian influenza by infected wild birds that have stood on the same premises.
Laura McKenzie

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency on Dec. 18 to expedite the state’s response to avian influenza A (H5N1).

The state said the emergency proclamation will help provide state and local agencies with additional flexibility around staffing, contracting and other rules.

“Building on California’s testing and monitoring system—the largest in the nation—we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information,” Newsom said.

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1 Comment

James (Jim) Sherrard
January 2, 2025
I think for once the State of California is not overreacting on getting ready for the H5N1 virus. The Avarian flu virus is a shapeshifter with an advantageous genome that has a high rate of mutation. Once the mutation occurs it is in the hands of natural resection and high reproductive output. The genome has the genes that if they mutate will change the lock and key on how the virus infects individual cells. Zoonosis will occur and the United States is looking at another virus and possible pandemic ripping through the human population. This one will be all on the United States, it won't be a Chinese flu, Wuhan flu, it won't be a lab virus modified for enhanced activity; it will be a flu that has resided for years in the United States and found suitable hosts that will allow it to move into humanity. This will be flu 2.0 for the second decade in the 21st century
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