1. Two people exposed to rabies in South Carolina, 2 animals test positive [SC - edited]
By Mia Mendez
WLOS.com
January 7, 2026
GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C. (WLOS) - South Carolina's Department of Public Health (DPH) reports rabies cases in at least two animals, with at least two people also being exposed.
Two people in Greenwood County were exposed after encountering a stray cat that tested positive. The cat went in for testing on Jan. 2 and was confirmed to have it on Jan. 5.
The case involving the cat follows another case announced on Jan. 5, where a beef cow in Anderson County tested positive for rabies and exposed 19 other cows to the deadly virus.
The cow was found near Gentry Road and Highway 81 in Starr, South Carolina, and went in for testing on Dec. 31.
2. Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed at Arizona Equine Premises; Colorado Mare Tests Positive for EIA
Vesicular Stomatitis Confirmed at Arizona Equine Premises
The premises is located in Maricopa County.
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
January 7, 2026
There is currently an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) in Arizona.
On Oct. 31, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed findings in horses on two separate premises in Cochise County. In November, two new cases were reported, including one case in Gila County and one in Santa Cruz County.
On Dec. 9, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories detected a new VSV case by PCR on swab samples from a lesioned wild horse from the Salt River Wild Horse Management Group located in the Tonto National Forest in Maricopa County.
In late December, one new affected equine premises was identified in Santa Cruz County, and one previously affected premises in Santa Cruz County was released from quarantine.
Since then, one new affected premises has been identified in Maricopa County.
Colorado Mare Tests Positive for EIA
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
January 7, 2026
On Dec. 23, a 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare in Adams County, Colorado, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The mare, who was used for racing, was tested to fulfill an interstate movement requirement. She had a poor body condition at the time of testing.
The mare was euthanized, and 13 horses at the training facility where she lived have been exposed. Testing results for exposed horses are pending.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1141900/colorado-mare-tests-positive-for-eia/
See Also:
Two Alberta Horses Test Positive for EIA [Canada]
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
January 7, 2026
On Jan. 5, two horses in Two Hills County No. 21, Alberta, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The horses had been tested to fulfill a United States export requirement. They were not displaying clinical signs at the time of sampling.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has placed movement controls on exposed horses. Initial reports indicate that there are other equines on the affected premises.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1141908/2-alberta-horses-test-positive-for-eia-2/
3. Swine Health Ontario confirms first PED case of 2026
By Diego Flammini
Farms.com
January 6, 2026
Ontario has its first case of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in 2026.
A finisher barn in Perth County is dealing with the disease as of Jan. 2, Swine Health Ontario says.
In total, Ontario has 23 active instances of PED dating back to January 2025.
Seven are in Perth County, followed by six in Huron. Oxford and Middlesex have three each. Wellington County has two, and Lambton and Waterloo each have one instance.
Full text: https://www.farms.com/ag-industry-news/swine-health-ontario-confirms-first-ped-case-of-2026-864.aspx
4. NIFA Invests $2.8M in Animal Breeding, Genetics and Genomics Research
NIFA News
January 7, 2026
USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture has invested $2.8 million in 10 competitive research projects as part of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative's Animal Breeding, Genetics, and Genomics program area priority (A1201). The program supports research on the development of novel quantitative genetic methods; national and regional breeding strategies; new phenotypes for improving selection criteria and/or high-throughput methods for on-farm recording of traits; and alternatives to control inbreeding. Research can be basic, applied or both.
2024 Awardees
Cornell University;
Gordon Research Conferences;
Kansas State University;
Texas A&M Agrilife Research;
University of Illinois;
University of Illinois;
University of Missouri System;
University of Tennessee;
Utah State University;
Washington State University.
Full text: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/animal-programs/animal-breeding-genetics-genomics
5. Poultry gut microbiome's secrets could be unlocked by AI
Using artificial intelligence to identify specific biomarkers tied to performance and health outcomes could lead to better management decisions on the farm.
By Elizabeth Doughman
WATTAgNet.com
January 2, 2026
Artificial intelligence (AI) could simplify the complexities of the poultry gut microbiome to help producers optimize flock performance and health.
The poultry gut microbiome contains more than 800 identified bacterial species and many more that have yet to be classified. It plays a crucial role in poultry development, however its complexity has made it notoriously difficult to correlate with production outcomes.
The poultry gut microbiome is a relatively new concept. Analyzing its contents can provide insights into how feed additives, other nutrients and management practices positively or negatively impact poultry flock health, helping producers optimize diets for better growth rates, reproduction and overall performance.
Breed variations, temperature fluctuations, heat stress, feed composition and environmental factors all influence microbiome composition, creating an analytical challenge that has challenged traditional research methods.
6. Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Animal Disease Traceability
Federal Register Volume 91, Number 4 (Wednesday, January 7, 2026)
Notices
Pages 495-496
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FR Doc No: 2026-00097
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Docket No. APHIS-2025-0705
Notice of Request for Revision to and Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Animal Disease Traceability
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Revision to and extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with animal disease traceability.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before March 9, 2026.
Full text: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-07/html/2026-00097.htm