Sooo California Just Declared A State Of Emergency Over Bird Flu… Should I Be Scared?

California has officially declared a state of emergency over bird flu — but don’t freak out just yet. Governor Gavin Newsom (the most evil progressive out there) made the announcement after bird flu decided to level up from wild birds and backyard flocks to dairy cattle. Yes, bird flu has infected cows, and no, we’re not living in a simulation.

Latest Bird Flu Updates

Image Credit: Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images

The US’s first severe human case of bird flu — a person in Louisiana — has been hospitalized with the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the past month alone, over 300 dairy herds in California tested positive for bird flu, making the Golden State the epicenter of this cattle crisis. The outbreak has gotten so serious that Governor Newsom called for “expanded monitoring and a more coordinated statewide response.” Translation: Everyone is on high alert, and we’re throwing more resources at the problem.

The good news? The risk to the public is still considered low. The bad news? Scientists are waving the red flag because if this virus keeps spreading among cattle, there’s a chance it could mutate and become a bigger problem for humans — as if you needed any more reason to stop drinking that nasty-ass raw milk.

Wait, Could I Catch Bird Flu?

California accounts for about half of the reported human bird flu infections in the U.S., but so far, there’s no evidence of human-to-human spread. Most human cases have been traced back to direct exposure to sick animals, like farm workers handling infected cattle. However, a few cases in the U.S. have popped up with no clear link to animals. So scientists are keeping a close eye on this thing because, well, we remember how well we all handled the last virus that spread in the U.S.

Most human infections so far have resulted in mild symptoms, but there’s a wildcard here. A recent case in Louisiana involved someone hospitalized after exposure to sick birds, and scientists are now analyzing the virus to see if it’s picked up any scary mutations. And then, abroad, a teenager in Canada caught a different strain of bird flu and had to be hospitalized. Canadian officials are still scratching their heads over how that even happened. So, while we’re not yet at The Walking Dead levels of concern, it’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

Should I Start Hoarding Oat Milk?

Not exactly. For now, the risk to the general public remains low, and there’s no need to panic about your next iced latte or charcuterie board. That said, it’s probably a good time to send some good vibes to dairy farmers and maybe avoid any sketchy sources of milk (again, raw milk people, I’m looking at you).

Unless you’re hanging out with infected cattle on the reg, you’re probably safe —for now. Stay tuned, stay informed, and maybe keep an extra bottle of oat milk on hand… just in case.