California officials have declared a state of emergency due to the spread of avian influenza affecting dairy cattle and causing sporadic human infections. The H5N1 virus has been detected in 866 flocks across 16 states, with over 60 reported infections in humans. Recently identified cases have raised concerns, particularly a severe case in Louisiana. Governor Gavin Newsom has taken this step to better allocate resources for response efforts, emphasizing that the overall risk to the public remains low.