Labcorp debuts molecular test to aid in the diagnosis of human infection with H5 avian influenza.
December 18, 2024
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency Dec. 18 to streamline and expedite the state’s response to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1. This action comes as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in southern California, signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus. The virus has spread in 16 states among dairy cattle, following its first confirmed detection in Texas and Kansas in March 2024, Newsom’s statement added.
To date, no person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California, and most infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle. California has already established the largest testing and monitoring system in the nation to respond to the outbreak, the statement said, adding that this emergency proclamation will provide state and local agencies with additional flexibility around staffing, contracting and other rules to support California’s evolving response.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said. “Building on California’s testing and monitoring system – the largest in the nation – we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”
California has mobilized a comprehensive cross-agency response to bird flu in dairy cattle and poultry farms to minimize farm worker exposures, reduce raw dairy product contamination and mitigate the spread of the virus.
Through coordinated public awareness efforts between the California Department of Public Health, California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA), California Office of Emergency Services and other agencies, the state is leading a cross-agency response that includes timely public updates, multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, targeted social media efforts to promote preventive practices, online and printed resources for the public and media interviews to keep Californians informed, the statement explained.
CDFA has already issued recalls of raw milk from two producers in the state in an effort to help stem the spread of HPAI.
Less than two weeks ago, however, diagnosticians at the California Animal Health & Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), represented by University Professional & Technical Employees (UPTE CWA Local 9119), blew the whistle on what was called dire laboratory conditions interfering with the critical work of testing and monitoring for the presence of HPAI H5N1in dairy and poultry populations. The current staffing crisis leaves the broader public and the agricultural industry susceptible to the economic and health impacts of an outbreak, the group said.
The CAHFS, a part of the University of California Davis, plays an essential role in safeguarding the health and safety of food and livestock in California and across the nation.
“Human error can occur when we are stretched thin and overworked. The combination of high workload, short deadlines and inconsistency of communication creates a high potential for mistakes, which could be catastrophic for consumers and producers alike,” said Victoria Ontiveros, a staff research associate currently working at CAHFS. “We’ve tried going to the dean, the department head and everyone else we can think of, but there was no response with any sense of urgency. The high turnover here seems to be the norm, and I am uncomfortable with how comfortable they are with it. Hiring is very slow, and there’s a learning curve associated with our work. We regularly have to cut lunch short, skip breaks and work excessive overtime because clients want results right away but we are burning out.”
HPAI was first detected in U.S. dairy cows on March 25, 2024, and California reported its first case on Aug. 30 in a dairy cow in Central California, the governor’s statement said. Since then, there have been 61 total reported confirmed cases of bird flu infection in people across seven states, including 34 reported human cases in California.
California is the leading dairy production in the U.S., and it has reported the highest number of HPAI cases in dairy cattle, with several more cases reported this week, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service.
In addition to dairy cases, bird flu was also confirmed in more poultry this week in backyard birds in Idaho, commercial and backyard birds in Nebraska and three commercial turkey farms in South Dakota. Human cases continue to be reported in multiple states as well.
To that end, to help combat the nation’s ongoing bird flu situation, Labcorp, a global provider of innovative and comprehensive laboratory services, made an announcement Dec. 17 about the commercial availability of its new H5 bird flu molecular test to aid in the diagnosis of human infection with H5 bird flu. The test is available in the U.S. (except New York) to physicians to order for patients suspected of infection with the H5N1 virus.
The test launch comes amid a multistate outbreak of H5 bird flu in poultry and dairy cows, with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers, Labcorp reported. While the current public health risk remains low, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention is monitoring human cases carefully, USDA is facilitating comprehensive surveillance of the nation's milk supply and dairy herds and Labcorp said its test can be used to evaluate potential human exposure.
Labcorp developed this commercially available test with support from CDC to increase access and testing capacity to support public health preparedness strategies, the statement added.
"As we continue to monitor developments related to the H5N1 virus, Labcorp is dedicated to equipping healthcare providers with the critical diagnostic tools they need to address emerging infectious disease threats," said Dr. Marcia Eisenberg, chief scientific officer at Labcorp. "By leveraging Labcorp's scientific expertise and extensive testing capacity, we are contributing to a proactive public health preparedness strategy, putting testing resources and infrastructure in place to detect and respond to human cases of H5 bird flu."
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