News

Pasteurization is the only widely recognized method of killing H5N1, the virus that causes bird flu, in milk. However, pasteurization can be expensive and fewer than 50% of large dairy farms pasteurize waste milk.

Waste milk includes colostrum, the first milk after calving; milk from cows treated with antibiotics or other drugs; or any other factor that can make milk unsuitable and unsellable for human consumption. On farms, raw waste milk poses a potential risk of spreading avian flu, which so far has been confirmed in dairy cattle in 16 states.  

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) H5N9 Strain 
Detected for the First Time in California, A Different Strain than H5N1

A commercial duck flock in Merced County, confirmed to have H5N1 bird flu on December 14, 2024, received secondary testing and the final report on January 13, 2025 confirmed the presence of a different, additional strain of bird flu---H5N9. This was reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) per protocol and published on January 24, 2025.

The UC Davis veterinary hospital has launched a Neurosurgery Specialty Service aimed at adapting state-of-the-art surgical solutions to complex neurological conditions.

This new service offers state-of-the-art neurosurgical interventions and clinical trials, including:

“Case of the Month” – January 2025

When their dog Tashi started looking around aimlessly recently, owners Jerry and Arlet Nordeen thought something might be wrong with their beloved 7-year-old Shih-Tzu. When this progressed into bumping into furniture and being hesitant to jump, they took her to see a veterinary ophthalmologist who diagnosed her with detached retinas in both eyes which was taking her vision.

The UC Davis veterinary hospital has opened the Meadowview Foundation Dentistry and Oral Surgery Center (video tour) as the new home of its Dentistry and Oral Surgery Service (DOSS). The new suite is nearly 150% larger than the service’s previous space, allows faculty, residents, and staff to maximize their expertise and interest, and makes patient care more personal and accessible.

Last week, Dean Mark Stetter presented town halls to highlight some key 2024 accomplishments and a general overview of the state of the school as we go into 2025. (Listen here.) Key topics included updates on our strategic initiatives, information on our upcoming accreditation process, and recent master planning for our Veterinary Medical Complex.

Lance Yohe, CJF, is the new farrier for the UC Davis veterinary hospital’s Large Animal Clinic. Yohe has been a farrier for more than 30 years. He completed his farrier education at the Eastern School of Farriery in 1993 and became a Certified Farrier (2014) and a Certified Journeyman Farrier (2015) through the American Farrier’s Association (AFA).

An active member of AFA since 2008, Yohe served as the regional director from 2017-23 and on the executive board from 2017-22. He also served as director and vice president of the Western States Farrier Association from 2008-16.

Bats are widely recognized as the primary hosts of filoviruses, such as Ebola, yet the specific host species of ebolaviruses are not definitively known. In a study led by the University of California, Davis, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein), scientists have developed a new tool to narrow down potential host species of filoviruses and better prioritize wildlife surveillance. The research is part of global efforts to prevent viral spillover between animals and humans.

Last week, the first human death as a result of infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, or bird flu was reported. According to the Louisiana state health agency, “The patient contracted H5N1 after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds.”

From growing up a 3-block walk to the San Francisco Zoo and going on “stroller safaris” with her family, to becoming a Board-Certified Specialist in Zoological Medicine™, Dr. Daniela Yuschenkoff’s career has recently come full circle. It was a proud moment for Dr. Yuschenkoff finding out she had passed the rigorous, 2-day exam. After over 3 years of preparation and 6 weeks of serious studying, she claimed that those two days were the “smartest I’ll ever be!”