[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6650144,"mediaKeyId","2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45","parentId",2510665,"title","Egg, poultry and dairy producers describe large losses, slow repopulation and ask for vaccines and movement limits","audioSeconds",452,"startMs",7633000,"endMs",8085000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45&start=7633&end=8085","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45/thumbnail_7633000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6650144/California/Egg-poultry-and-dairy-producers-describe-large-losses-slow-repopulation-and-ask-for-vaccines-and-movement-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650144-edc4627675548dcd4cd41495f707e865/orig.mp4?Expires=1770913114&Signature=mYyeSQgzMmhIIUQpUsP5QXfJYrRfrTiViytHhnIl9wZdm-uCxlwtNLRURWwx9DKH3NTf-cBhddHEb47LqwQ13O6xisj1MEnjr4pzGNwJ74C62iF~LArpPYp~9QmnzD0MZFOO7jnoVukEHwZIQtMvgD3Ufb2R38JUJvIKdYodl4GQrqi8ov9pDpMA4~OSCYDdfvINzN1jWwJMlrc8UiIXqknMI0CdMLMS2jjAth3oJwjJuH2zOawOQ~oAlc21FrY-REYx77t74IsmiB72ns8G28eYy1CHtHRPbM7BHOhV7WYMQpxvQX6MOvkeVyIjSxsqtfmqLbTxdRFMfyi-IWX82g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","California State Senate","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","Leaders from California’s poultry and dairy industries told the joint Senate hearing that profound production losses, limited replacement birds and complex trade considerations are constraining recovery from the H5N1 outbreak.

\"We take it very seriously,\" said Bill Matos, president of the California Poultry Federation, describing industry biosecurity steps and long experience responding to poultry diseases. Matos said modern poultry operations enforce strict disinfecting and access controls and credited state and federal laboratory systems for rapid testing capability.

David Will, vice president of sales for Chino Valley Ranchers, described the direct operational impact on one family‑owned organic farm that lost 180,000 laying hens in December despite following stringent biosecurity. Will requested stronger dairy movement restrictions and a national vaccination program to address the dairy as a viral harborage. \"This dairy harborage of infection cannot be overlooked,\" he said, and he asked for epidemiologists to assist farms immediately after detection.

Doreen Dite, a field representative for California Dairies Inc., said the cooperative saw widespread drops in milk production, higher treatment costs, increased mortalities and breeding problems. She also described laboratory bottlenecks early in the outbreak, noting many bulk‑milk samples had to be sent to UC Davis and then out of state for confirmation, which slowed quarantines.

Numbers and operational realities: witnesses and earlier speakers offered several production figures during the hearing. In opening remarks Senator Hurtado said, \"Statewide, that number is a 66,000,000 birds with 30,000,000 just since January\" (opening remarks attributed to Senator Hurtado in the transcript). Industry witnesses described supply-chain impacts and long repopulation timelines for specialty flocks: one witness said replacing organic brown layers could take 12–18 months before full production resumes.

Industry requests to the Legislature included continued and prioritized funding for CDFA and local officials, faster on‑farm disinfect and depopulation support to shorten downtime, help with replacement‑bird supply and international trade‑aware vaccination strategies that would allow targeted use of vaccines without causing export bans.

What the committee heard: industry witnesses emphasized that, despite strong biosecurity, the combination of dairy infections and high local poultry density created conditions for unusual spread. They urged lawmakers to support coordinated state‑federal action on movement controls, vaccine research and repopulation assistance so producers can restore domestic supply more quickly.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Hearing Health And Agriculture","oneSentenceSummary","Industry witnesses told the Senate that large commercial losses and delays in restocking threaten California egg and dairy supplies. Producers urged continued funding for CDFA, stronger movement controls for dairy cattle, and support for vaccination research and repopulation assistance.","taxTitle","California State Senate, Senate, Legislative, California","taxId",77650,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650148,"UC Merced study finds gaps in dairy workplace safety; researchers recommend paid leave, testing and stronger enforcement",449,5954000,6403000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45&start=5954&end=6403","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45/thumbnail_5954000.jpg","/articles/6650148/California/UC-Merced-study-finds-gaps-in-dairy-workplace-safety-researchers-recommend-paid-leave-testing-and-stronger-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650148-8c5ff3028b5ffb7a5795d4ca0a26107d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770913114&Signature=BOOw08zuTVIO97gFXEDmJEM6M61I1hmDjMFPgLOCK8Rx~W6eHDZd14faO0kNH0M8JftL3SCWCjMwx932BWvQnPlH50lywSd0QkXnIB2Tv9brxUPTcaEy3BDcLSMQZvgCBjxEnEt47ryPDVWXdm3ugK5gKrQnHdtHOIUTbWqChkX6zN83twzkhLqKwRMEn0ehcCZO~k9jIEG0C-szznDPwQ3tg87zsqIEV6D3oHiC6sFo~SYPwnjRU8uiSP2CmC91djmxdMuP7U8CxDAHVWTVRvRRsVTQwgTOVOz-yWifh20iGFf9S6NNhlf6k8ETPDbDu5ohwWawYQS~RCwRTc103g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A UC Merced Community and Labor Center study presented at the Senate hearing identified workplace practices on some California dairies that the researchers said heighten risk for transmission of H5N1 from animals to workers and the wider community.

\"Unless we can adequately explain why 753 dairies were positive but nationwide only 840 people had been tested, then we're not really grappling with the right questions,\" said Edward Flores, faculty director of the UC Merced Community and Labor Center, summarizing the group's findings.

The study (interviews conducted Oct. 2024–Jan. 2025 in Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Merced counties) identified three core themes: (1) worker reports of sanitary and safety noncompliance (inadequate breaks, lack of PPE or storage for soiled gear, lack of hand soap and potable water); (2) production pressures that deprioritize worker health (insufficient training, rushed shifts, discouragement for PPE use); and (3) economic insecurity that discourages reporting of illness (fear of job loss, burdensome sick‑leave documentation requirements).

Recent worker accounts included reports that employees sometimes ate among cattle and did not always have sanitary storage for contaminated work clothes. Some workers said supervisors discouraged PPE use and routinely deprioritized workers’ basic needs. Those conditions, Flores said, can reduce the effectiveness of other biosecurity measures.

Policy recommendations in the UC Merced brief (titled Producing Risk) included: requiring supplemental paid sick leave for testing, vaccination and monitoring; making H5 testing available to workers and their families; requiring employers to share illness information with workers, labor representatives and regulators; increasing enforcement resources for workplace health standards; using worker education to supplement public education campaigns; and prioritizing employers that meet or exceed safety standards in state procurement and subsidy awards.

Why it matters: researchers said protecting workers is integral to public‑health containment. The brief also reported that some employers did implement worker‑centred practices (training, paid sick time, PPE provision), demonstrating that change is possible, Flores added.","Researchers from the UC Merced Community and Labor Center said interviews with dairy workers showed widespread workplace noncompliance with safety standards and recommended paid sick leave for testing and treatment, expanded testing access, mandatory employer reporting of illnesses and stronger enforcement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650154,"Tulare County details rapid local response after its first confirmed human H5N1 case",298,5581000,5879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45&start=5581&end=5879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45/thumbnail_5581000.jpg","/articles/6650154/California/Tulare-County-details-rapid-local-response-after-its-first-confirmed-human-H5N1-case","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650154-04175e05059f8355a1711e89fe897b6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770913114&Signature=cIALXrBWBoipmASwIpBMSp7t-4-h1NcHjDyeMFsXAFPprpSDREmaEU2BHn-ajetzhwkXXsddSWj8ixXoVcg1bPmIai-mDcWwi3bxktMO~Z8dmb5CfOiZQgJgOqUzNNkEJB~J1a1ZaL~4Cd3lQZY1yW93AjyRizbonyVEJt~V20-n8Qj1xAksRYPU6Z2VhDnmg86mX20nERwwzs-Mo~A1IlB2evmWbDd22xQ5qscLQrzXCYwk5BkqMm1ubBzIbR9CtH6PeYrwTD~k3fVfFs1fE-gw5jmJXPIT~jOTZmEAgRXkfd3HTKYKN0pyt0Vqj3nL7J24CCJ8rDvmhcnfvVCU8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tulare County public health officials told the Senate joint hearing that local planning and rapid activation of emergency operations limited harm after the county detected its first human H5N1 infection.

\"It wasn't a question of if it would happen, but when,\" Tulare County Public Health Director Karen Elliott said. The county began preparing in March 2024, Elliott said, and held a large tabletop exercise in August 2024 that included more than 85 participants from dairy, state agencies, local health care and county partners.

Elliott described a multi-pronged local response after notification of the first human case on Oct. 3. Tulare activated a Department Operations Center (DOC) to coordinate case investigation, contact monitoring and resource distribution. \"We organized PPE distribution events and outreach efforts to protect workers and prevent further spread,\" Elliott said, and she noted the county’s public-health lab typically provided same‑day processing for H5 testing of influenza-positive swabs.

The county emphasized partnerships: public health nursing staff monitored up to 2,000 exposed workers at once; environmental health dairy inspectors helped coordinate with dairy owners; and local community-based organizations joined PPE and outreach events. Elliott said the county used state technology systems — CalConnect, CalReady and MyCalVax — to facilitate monitoring and vaccine access.

Why it matters: Tulare County lies in California’s Central Valley, a high concentration area for dairies and a place where early introductions can quickly affect production and workers. Elliott said the county distributed a large share of state-supplied PPE, noting Tulare distributed more than 1.7 million pieces (the witness reported this was more than 10% of a national total referenced earlier in testimony).

What worked and what did not: Elliott credited the state’s \"futures of public health\" funding for building local capacity, and she said the longstanding local relationships between dairy inspectors, creameries and health departments accelerated outreach. She also said testing and surveillance were strengthened by having the Tulare public‑health lab rapidly screen local clinical specimens and support neighboring counties.

Elliott concluded that preparedness investments and community partnerships were decisive, and she urged continued funding for local public health capacity and for lab networks that can process surge testing quickly.","Tulare County public health officials said advance planning, a county operation center, local lab processing and community PPE distribution were central to their response after the county’s first confirmed human H5N1 case.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650158,"California officials describe integrated response, lab surge and federal funding to fight H5N1 outbreak",682,813000,1495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45&start=813&end=1495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510665-c68b9a24feb108f6a87407859038ef45/thumbnail_813000.jpg","/articles/6650158/California/California-officials-describe-integrated-response-lab-surge-and-federal-funding-to-fight-H5N1-outbreak","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650158-e1afec2b332fd83c853db48c88c5d2eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770913114&Signature=ZzCeo8BDJk9Hcg01WzA99oQN5e7o5ZGyogEl82TfE0y8mw0D789eHdtn-PqIuEtN5d2V87pbofYFTitrdH80Me-MnBSutDPHiwQLVdYhGP1Q0KA6oMT7aZibk0gsnLmNhSkRuBPAgIMZzwvziLDeTMCDtiGdRPMsNH9WlFc-zjUlIATq2NCjW6ItodyeBk9MWfvjixRu58fvfbg72OatTz9LeiVoNmqdEsj-U5jhl03jsCZwZXee0EuIdz5Iqw9qBeuP9u1ueANMBOoxAf3dpk1zeQCuMG4rzrZgE9dNRZ9bXfN3irDn3Cm2jDHrglqifX8aEutG90279UHQrFLLaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","California officials told a joint Senate Health and Agriculture committee hearing that state and federal agencies have activated an integrated response, expanded testing and laboratory capacity, and secured federal funds to address the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak.

The testimony put a spotlight on three immediate priorities: strengthen farm-level biosecurity, scale and certify diagnostic testing, and support research into vaccines and therapeutics. \"We have the expertise here,\" California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross said, describing longstanding interagency relationships with state public health and federal partners. Ross highlighted partnerships with the UC Davis veterinary lab network and the use of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network to handle surges in samples.

Why it matters: witnesses said H5N1 has already disrupted poultry and dairy production and threatened food supply chains. Officials argued the state's historical investments in diagnostic laboratories, coordinated response plans and emergency contracting authority helped slow further harm after the governor declared an emergency in December.

State veterinarian Annette Jones described how the virus behaves differently by host and why that matters for policy. \"It's not a may, it's a must,\" Jones said of the statutory duty that requires certain regulatory actions when specified livestock diseases are detected. Jones explained that the virus replicates readily in birds and that, in dairy cattle, the mammary gland is the easiest place to detect virus — which is why bulk-milk testing became a central surveillance tool.

Public health director Dr. Bridal Pan (California Department of Public Health) described the human‑health side of the response, including an incident management structure to monitor exposed workers and distribute personal protective equipment. \"To date, we still have no reported human infections in poultry workers,\" Pan said, and she noted the department’s efforts to add H5 testing to routine influenza A diagnostics and to use wastewater surveillance as a complementary early‑warning tool.

From the federal side, USDA deputy administrator Dr. Rosemary Sifford told the committee the current outbreak is unusually persistent compared with prior HPAI episodes and emphasized expanded national surveillance for dairy and poultry. Sifford said USDA is putting new research and vaccine-development funding into play and coordinating vaccine‑ and biosecurity‑related requests for proposals.

Federal funding and lab capacity: witnesses described recent federal commitments that they said will be routed through multiple federal programs and state-federal partnerships — including about $1 billion in broadly-stated investments tied to biosecurity, roughly $400 million for financial assistance and surveillance programs, and $100 million targeted at accelerating vaccines and therapeutics, as described by Secretary Ross reporting USDA announcements. Witnesses also noted that some California lab capacity is still recovering from prior flood damage (a Tulare lab), while a new Turlock facility is expected online later this year.

What remains unresolved: officials said some risks persist because influenza viruses evolve; they emphasized the need for ongoing surveillance, calibrated use of any animal vaccine to avoid trade disruptions, and continued federal‑state coordination on surge personnel and diagnostics. Dr. Sifford cautioned that seasonal migration patterns of wild birds will influence future introductions and urged continued readiness.

Looking ahead, officials urged steady funding for laboratory networks and interagency response capacity, while noting that operational questions — such as when and how to deploy animal vaccines without harming export markets — will require careful scientific review and federal coordination.","State and federal officials told a joint California Senate hearing that California has activated an integrated animal- and human-health response to H5N1, expanding testing and laboratory capacity, distributing PPE, and coordinating with USDA on federal funding and vaccine research.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Egg, poultry and dairy producers describe large losses, slow repopulation and ask for vaccines and movement limits

UC Merced study finds gaps in dairy workplace safety; researchers recommend paid leave, testing and stronger enforcement

Tulare County details rapid local response after its first confirmed human H5N1 case

California officials describe integrated response, lab surge and federal funding to fight H5N1 outbreak