Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D, San Diego) today announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at ensuring that California is prepared to respond to the threat of Avian Flu. Saldaña introduced a bill in 2004 seeking changes to current policies for killing domestic birds suspected carrying contagious diseases. However, the bill failed to get out of the Agriculture Committee; this bill will focus more on potential human health concerns.

“Based on projections from Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Health, and the Center for Disease Control, it’s clear we need to take a proactive, state-wide approach to dealing with this threat” said Assembly Member Saldaña. “Our ability to effectively respond to any outbreak in California will depend on how well prepared we are, as far in advance as possible.”

Saldaña recently returned from a legislative trip to China and Vietnam where she witnessed first hand government preparations to manage the devastating effects of the virus. She noted that health authorities are already educating the public, and massive culls of millions of birds are underway in Asia, yet the virus has already spread into parts of South Eastern Europe.

Saldaña noted California’s migratory bird population as a potential means of spreading the virus. The state’s diverse and multicultural population increases the possibility of the virus being imported from overseas, as many Californians travel internationally to visit family and friends.

“There’s a great deal that we still don’t know about the various forms of Avian Flu, but we do know that it’s a very real public health issue” said Saldaña. “We don’t want to unnecessarily alarm people- we want Californians to be prepared. We are acting now, to ensure that California is taking the necessary steps for early preparation, so we can respond effectively if and when a case of Avian Flu is conclusively identified in our state.”