We’re trying to work with those farms to offer the flu vaccine — both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H5N1 vaccine. But I think it’s been challenging in some areas to get farmworkers to really accept vaccines and accept the flu vaccine. So I think that will be an ongoing challenge. But we’re definitely working on that. And I think some farms are definitely more receptive to that than others.
Is there anything else you think is important for the public to know about the situation in California?
I think one thing that’s really important for the public to know is that we’re doing a lot of work on the ground. We’re trying to be very proactive. We’re trying to communicate as much as possible. And we’re really trying to support our local health departments and our agricultural commissioners.
But I think it’s really important for everyone to know that this is a really difficult situation. And it’s going to take a lot of effort and a lot of resources to really try to manage this and get it under control. But we’re really trying our best, and I think we’re working as hard as we can to try to protect not only the public but also the farmworkers and the animals as well.
So I think that’s really important for the public to know that we’re really doing everything we can. And we’re really trying to be as transparent and open as possible about what’s going on and what we’re doing to try to address the situation.
Overall, the situation in California remains a significant concern as the number of infected farms continues to rise. Public health officials are working diligently to monitor for human infections and provide support to farmworkers and dairy farms in an effort to contain the spread of the virus. With ongoing efforts to educate and engage with the community, California is striving to mitigate the impact of the H5N1 outbreak and protect the health and safety of its residents.