Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency to strengthen California’s response to Avian Influenza A or Bird Flu, following its detection in dairy cows on Southern California farms, the his office said Wednesday.

The virus, first identified in U.S. cattle earlier this year in Texas and Kansas, has spread to 16 states.

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California has reported 34 of the 61 confirmed human cases in the country, though no person-to-person transmission has been detected. Nearly all human infections resulted from exposure to infected cattle.

“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. “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. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”

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California’s cross-agency response includes public awareness campaigns, multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, and widespread PPE distribution. The state has partnered with federal agencies, including the CDC and USDA, to ensure timely surveillance and investigation of potential cases.

Efforts also focus on reducing farmworker exposure, preventing raw dairy contamination, and ensuring agriculture workers have access to seasonal flu vaccines to mitigate dual risks.

Bird Flu was first detected in California’s wild bird population in July 2022. Its presence in dairy cattle was confirmed in Central California in August 2024.

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