The California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) lab in Tulare has been closed since March 16 due to flooding. UC Davis staff have been able to visit the site with the assistance of the Tulare County Office of Emergency Services and local first responders. They are currently assessing damage and planning cleanup efforts. 

There is currently no estimate on when the lab will reopen. Clients are being advised to submit samples to other CAHFS locations in Davis, Turlock and San Bernardino.  

The nearby Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center is also currently closed due to flood evacuations but does not appear to have sustained significant damage. Resident staff were evacuated last week and no injuries were reported. Two cows at the center have been moved to another property outside the flood evacuation zone.  

The CAHFS labs are operated by UC Davis in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, veterinarians and livestock producers.