How CAHFS is responding to the rise in H5N1
The California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory conducts vital work in animal safety and public health, addressing the demand for diagnostic testing of livestock and poultry for disease. The scale of the H5N1 (bird flu) outbreak in California is unprecedented. Fortunately, we are part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) that helps regions handle surges in cases. Further, we partner with the California Department of Food and Agriculture/USDA H5N1 Task Force, which serves on the front lines of disease response.
The lab, in partnership with NAHLN, has met and continues to meet the increased need for testing during the outbreak of avian flu, or H5N1, and at no point has animal health or public safety been compromised.
We have accomplished this through the hard work of our team and the NAHLN. Collectively, we have the resources necessary to provide timely and vital health and safety information, and have distributed the work broadly among qualified and certified members of the team. We have added staff and reallocated testing to other facilities and labs.
We deeply value the contributions of our lab staff. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive, respectful and productive working environment, and strive to treat all members of our staff fairly and equitably.
Many members of our lab staff are represented by UPTE, which is in negotiations with the University of California system on a new contract. Our lab honors all aspects of the agreement between UC and the union, including those addressing grievances, wages and work conditions.
We are committed to training and growing our workers while performing our animal health and public health responsibilities.
During this intensive response effort, CAHFS is committed to actively listening to staff concerns. We thank our staff for their incredible dedication to protecting public health, and are grateful for the efforts of our partners.
To learn more about the work of the lab, please see the September 2024 UC Health article: Pandemic preparedness: how the University of California is a critical state partner in health security.
Updated 12/11/2024