Health officials reported the first "severe" human case of the H5N1 virus on December 18.MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty ImagesA bird flu outbreak has ravaged the world's birds since 2020 and infected cattle earlier this year.California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency over the virus this week.Health officials also confirmed the first "severe" case of and hospitalization for the H5N1 virus.The burgeoning global bird flu outbreak continued its flight path across the country this week, with two major developments that point to the virus's increasingly concerning spread.California Gov.