California Taps Pandemic Stockpiles to Combat Rising Bird Flu Cases

California public health officials are taking proactive measures to address the growing threat of bird flu, confirming at least 21 human cases in the state as of early November. To equip up to 10,000 farmworkers, the state is drawing from both state and federal stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, and goggles.

The distribution of over 2 million pieces of PPE began in late May, four months before the first human case was confirmed in California. This preemptive action was initiated after bird flu was first detected in cattle in the U.S. in April. The state has also ramped up coordination with local health officials and is utilizing wastewater surveillance, a strategy honed during the COVID-19 pandemic, to track the spread of the virus.

Bird flu has been confirmed at more than 270 dairies in central California, with recent detections at a wastewater sampling site in Los Angeles County and in a flock of commercial turkeys in Sacramento County. Despite these cases, there is no indication of human-to-human transmission, and public health officials maintain that the public risk remains low.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also reported additional H5 avian influenza outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry across the country, with California being particularly affected. The national total now stands at over 500 herds affected across 15 states.

In response to the need for rapid diagnostics, Alveo Technologies has secured an agreement with the CDC to develop a portable molecular test that can differentiate between influenza A, influenza B, and H5 influenza. This test, set to begin shipping next month, aims to expand diagnostic capacity beyond public health labs.