California dairy industry struggles as bird flu cases multiply
California health officials have identified 16 human cases of bird flu this month as the virus spreads through dairy farms, raising concerns about worker safety and testing protocols. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the cases represent most of the country’s cattle-to-human transmissions of H5N1. The California Department of Public Health reports testing only 39 people for H5N1, the strain affecting cattle herds across the state. Workers who tested positive have experienced mild symptoms, including flu-like conditions and pink eye, with no hospitalizations reported. State authorities have confirmed bird flu infections at 178 California dairies since the