As the CDC confirmed a severe case in Louisiana of a patient hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in California related to the virus.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an emergency proclamation on Wednesday in response to growing concerns over bird flu cases in the state and across the country.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency over the bird flu outbreak across many states. Declaring a state of emergency will expedite the state’s response to bird flu, according to Newsom’s office. Driving the news: Bird flu has spread to dairy cattle across 16 states since it was first detected in March.