1. Delaware confirms first case of Chronic Wasting Disease in Sussex Co. deer [edited]
By Sean Curtis
WBOC.com
April 21, 2026
SUSSEX CO., Del. - The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has announced Delaware's first case of Chronic Wasting Disease after a white-tailed deer killed in Sussex County tested positive for the disease.
DNREC says CWD has never previously been found in Delaware or on Delmarva as a whole.
The white-tailed deer that tested positive was harvested by a hunter and tested as part of routine surveillance, according to DNREC. A second white-tailed deer, also harvested in Sussex County, has tested presumptive positive.
2. IU receives $2 million grant to combat bird flu [IN]
By Clayton Baumgarth
Indiana Public Media
April 21, 2026
Indiana University's Department of Environmental and Occupational Health has received a grant to research ways to combat avian flu.
Associate professor Roberto Rodríguez's project "Enhancing Poultry Farm Biosecurity Using UVC Light Technology to Prevent Avian Influenza Virus Contamination" received nearly $2 million from the USDA to see if specialized lamps can slow the spread of the bird flu.
Rodríguez said UVC lights can be effective at eliminating viruses while not being able to penetrate and damage human skin.
"We don't have data on how those technologies can be applied in the poultry system," he said. "So our idea is to look into different fronts on trying to control the virus to enter to the farm through the ventilation system."
Full text: https://www.ipm.org/news/2026-04-21/iu-receives-2-million-grant-to-combat-bird-flu
3. Washington Horse Tests Positive for Strangles
EDCC Health Watch
Equus Magazine
April 22, 2026
One horse at a private facility in Snohomish County, Washington, has tested positive for strangles. The horse is under veterinary care and is currently recovering.
Full text: https://equusmagazine.com/news/edcc-health-watch/washington-horse-tests-positive-for-strangles-11
4. Recognizing the Benefits of Combination Vaccines
Ready-to-use combo vaccines protect against PCV2 and Lawsonia while maintaining Mycoplasma-negative status - simplifying protocols and saving labor.
By Dr. Jamie Lehman, DVM, Merck Animal Health
National Hog Farmer
April 22, 2026
In today's swine production environment, operations are being asked to do more with less. Labor constraints continue to challenge producers while disease pressures remain constant. As a veterinarian working with operations of all sizes, I've seen firsthand how the right vaccination strategy can address both challenges simultaneously - protecting herd health while streamlining on-farm protocols.
The evolution of combination vaccines has been driven by this dual need: comprehensive disease protection delivered through simplified administration. But as our industry has evolved, so too have the specific needs of different production systems. This is particularly true for operations maintaining Mycoplasma-negative status.
5. Annette O'Connor named dean of College of Veterinary Medicine [KS]
KSU Press Release
JC Post
April 22, 2026
MANHATTAN - Following a national search, the Office of the Provost has named Annette O'Connor the next dean of Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. She brings years of internationally recognized experience as she steps into the role effective Aug. 2.
O'Connor has built her career serving science, society, animals and higher education by connecting research to real-world practice and impact and training the next generation of leaders in veterinary science, animal health and public health. O'Connor will serve as the college's chief academic and administrative officer, leading its academic work, research efforts and service to the state. She will work closely with the campus community and partners across Kansas to keep the college moving forward while continuing to build on the university's Next-Gen K-State strategic plan.
Source: https://jcpost.com/posts/343b93b2-7d58-47ce-8cfb-be0eddd18848
6. Join us for the next ZOHU Call on May 6, 2026 2 - 3 pm ET.
CDC
April 21, 2026
*Please note: We have moved to MS Teams. Be sure to register for the webinar.
Presentations:
Canine Leishmaniosis Country-Level Risk Assessments
Sheena Tarrant, MS, BVM&S, MPH, DACVPM, Veterinary Medical Officer
Zoonoses Prevention and Import Regulations Team, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Center for Disease, Control and Prevention
Overview of an operational risk assessment tool for evaluating Leishmania infantum introduction and establishment in the US through dog importation
Christine Petersen, DVM, PhD, FASTMH, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Ohio State University
AND
Anne Straily, DVM, MPH, DACVPM
Associate Veterinarian, Banfield Pet Hospital - Smyrna, GA
Register:* https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/login (see above note)
and
https://tinyurl.com/25q4jn24