California's recent declaration of a state of emergency due to a rampant bird flu outbreak has shone a spotlight on a lesser-discussed but significant public health hazard: illegal cockfighting operations. According to advocacy group the Center for a Humane Economy, these underground activities have amplified the spread of avian diseases in the past and could do so again, not just within California’s extensive poultry farms but potentially into other species and the human population as well. With a documented history of avian disease proliferation through cockfighting birds, California is deemed one of the top five worst states for illegal cockfighting, sharing this dubious distinction with Alabama, Hawaii, Kentucky, and Oklahoma.
California's geographical positioning contributes to its struggle with this issue, as its border with Mexico, where cockfighting remains a legal practice, facilitates the unlawful transportation of fighting birds. The connection between California and cockfighting is palpable; notably, a prominent individual linked to a Mexican cartel’s cockfighting operations was recently apprehended in Riverside County, the Center for a Humane Economy points out. Additionally, Mexican authorities have reported ongoing violence tied to these operations, such as the fatal incident at a cockfight in Colima involving a leader from the Sinaloa Cartel, illustrating the intertwined nature of organized crime and illegal bird fighting, as NY Post reported a few days ago.
California's laws on the matter remain weak compared to other western states, says the advocacy group. In the Golden State, such activities are still classified as misdemeanors. The widespread existence of these "backyard" operations across all 58 counties, demonstrated by the confiscation of over 200 fighting birds in Sacramento County alone, underscores the challenge at hand.
Dr. Jim Keen, veterinary science director at the Center for a Humane Economy, identifies the unchecked cockfighting industry as a critical vector in avian disease transmission in California. He urges more decisive federal agency actions, pointing out that cockfighting may have significantly contributed to past avian flu outbreaks, such as the virulent Newcastle Disease episodes in Southern California between 2002-03 and 2018-20, which resulted in the loss of millions of birds and substantial economic costs.
Moreover, the current bird flu outbreak has intensified the need for vigilance. California's emergency status was declared after the virus penetrated dairy cattle, expanding the scope of threat as it spread to 16 states.
Earlier this week, the San Francisco Zoo closed all aviary exhibits as a precaution against the spread of the disease.
Human cases have also begun popping up throughout the country, including Wisconsin's first case and the America's first serious case in Louisiana with the CDC noting that the individual was hospitalized.
Despite stepped-up public awareness and preventive strategies advised by Governor Gavin Newsom, the state grapples with tracking and managing these illegal cockfighting operations, which could potentially worsen the already tenuous public health situation.
Ultimately, as the avian flu continues to garner national attention and efforts to contain it remain critical, the role of illegal cockfighting operations must not be overlooked. States like California must grapple with the dual tasks of managing immediate health risks while addressing the underlying illegal activities that exacerbate such crises. The path forward demands a coordinated response that prioritizes stringent law enforcement and public health strategies to shield the community from the broader implications of this and future outbreaks.
