A cow standing next to a fence in a field under a tree with evening sunlight.

Avian Flu Updates

About Avian Flu

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 strain has been detected on commercial farms in California and other parts of the United States. The most recent outbreak of the highly transmissible strain of bird flu began in early 2022 and has resulted in the deaths of millions of chickens and turkeys. It has also been detected in cows in the U.S., marine mammals in South America, and other species globally. The CDC has confirmed a handful of human cases in the U.S. and several cases of avian flu in cats on dairy farms. Visit CDC for the current situation summary.

UPDATE: On January 29, 2025, CDFA issued a statement on avian influenza H5N9 strain after it was detected for the first time in California.

UC Health Grand Rounds: Avian Flu

The virtual event on February 19, 2025 drew 2,000 attendees to discuss H5N1’s changes, including mammal-to-mammal spread, new species infections, and rising human cases. The one-hour session featured three experts from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and one from UC Davis Health.

Read the full summary and watch the video

UC Davis Avian Flu Experts In The News

Several UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine veterinarians are actively researching the subject, and the experts are being featured in media throughout the world as the topic continues to grow.