Two new cases of screwworm confirmed in New Mexico
By: Fernie Ortiz
WGNO.com
October 16, 2026
EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) - New Mexico has confirmed two new cases of New World screwworm.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture announced Thursday that the new cases involved a horse and a calf in Grant County, a T-shaped county that stretches from the Arizona state line and the Gila National Forest down to an area just above New Mexico's Bootheel.
This is the third screwworm case in Grant County; officials confirmed the first case in a horse in September.
The Department of Agriculture said state and federal officials are trying to identify any additional cases by expanding surveillance and flytrapping around affected locations.
As part of the response, officials have established a 12.4-mile radius infested zone around each affected animal's location. Officials said animals within these zones must be inspected and, if necessary, treated before moving within or out of the area.
Full text: https://wgno.com/news/2-new-cases-of-screwworm-confirmed-in-new-mexico/
State and fed AG officials respond to New Mexico's 5th New World screwworm case
By Blake Troli
KOB.com
October 22, 2026
SANTA TERESA, N.M. - New Mexico confirmed a fifth New World screwworm case in Otero County as officials set a 12.4-mile infested zone and release sterile flies.
The state said the larvae turned up in a beef cow on a cattle ranch between Pinon, New Mexico and Dell City, Texas. A 12.4 mile infested zone has been set up around the area with animals inside the zone needing to be inspected or even treated before moving within or outside the area.
"We are working closely with our state and federal partners to investigate these cases, increase surveillance and monitor for additional infestations," said State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Holeck with the New Mexico Livestock Board in a press release.
Holeck said New Mexico is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release sterile flies in the area after the latest case. She lauded the rancher's quick action in reporting the case.
New World screwworm confirmed in Hidalgo County calf as New Mexico expands surveillance
By Damien Willis
OrganMountainNews
October 24, 2026
HACHITA - New Mexico animal health officials have confirmed New World screwworm in a calf in Hidalgo County, establishing a new infested zone as state and federal agencies expand surveillance for the parasitic fly.
The New Mexico Department of Agriculture announced the case in a release published Friday, Oct. 23. Officials said they are expanding surveillance and fly-trapping around affected locations to identify additional cases and determine whether the parasite has spread beyond the animals already confirmed to be infested.
Full text: https://www.organmountainnews.com/new-world-screwworm-hidalgo-county-calf-infested-zone-2026/
Texas Modifies New World Screwworm Infested Zone
APHIS Stakeholder Registry
October 23, 2026
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has issued a new executive order modifying a New World screwworm (NWS) infested zone, with concurrence from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This action comes after State and Federal subject matter experts confirmed that portions of the area met requirements outlined in APHIS' New World Screwworm Response Playbook for zone release.
The zone being modified is: Infested Zone 12.A
Releasing or modifying infested zones removes NWS-related movement requirements for livestock and pets within certain areas. All interstate movement requirements and international export requirements will still apply.
Several infested zones in Texas remain in place, and APHIS continues to work closely with TAHC to evaluate conditions for future zone releases. All Texas animal owners should visit the TAHC website to ensure they have the latest information about the location of infested zones, movement requirements, and zone-specific requirements.
APHIS and TAHC remain committed to supporting continuity of business for producers and will continue applying science-based surveillance, early detection, and rapid response measures to ensure that areas are released as soon as the criteria have been met.
Two deer test positive for chronic wasting disease on Menominee Reservation [WI - edited]
WBAY.com
October 26, 2026
KESHENA, Wis. (WBAY) - Wildlife officials have confirmed two deer harvested on the Menominee Reservation tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
According to the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, both deer were taken in the southeast corner of the reservation - a doe harvested in the Jackson Creek area and a spike buck taken near Southeast Pine Lake. All positive CWD results to date on the reservation have been concentrated in that area.
Tribal regulations prohibit baiting deer on the reservation, and officials urge all hunters to get their harvested deer tested regardless of appearance.
DNR confirms first CWD case in Marinette County deer [WI]
WBAY.com
October 22, 2026
PESHTIGO, Wis. (WBAY) - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the first positive test result for chronic wasting disease in a wild deer in Marinette County, near Peshtigo.
The deer was a 3-year-old adult buck. It was humanely killed because of signs of illness.
The current feeding and baiting ban in Marinette County will be extended for three more years.
Feeding bans in neighboring counties are not impacted.
Source: https://www.wbay.com/2026/10/22/dnr-confirms-first-cwd-case-marinette-county-deer/
3. FFAR Research Explores New World Screwworm Vaccine [edited]
Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
October 14, 2026
To address the ongoing threats from New World screwworm, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Medgene are investing $499,996 in a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to develop and test a vaccine that could help protect cattle from this harmful parasite.
The research:
Led by Dr. Casey Wright, bacteriology development manager at Medgene, researchers are developing a vaccine that targets proteins New World screwworm larvae need to feed and develop. The goal is to trigger antibodies in vaccinated cattle that interfere with the larvae's ability to feed on tissue and complete their life cycle.
Using Medgene's scalable vaccine production platform, the team is vaccinating cattle, assessing safety and measuring their immune response to determine whether the vaccine should advance to field studies.
The potential:
If successful, the vaccine could give producers another tool to protect cattle and limit New World screwworm's spread. A vaccine could be particularly valuable in extensive production systems, where livestock are dispersed across large areas and frequent monitoring and treatment can be challenging. The approach would complement the sterile insect release program and other control measures by preventing larvae from successfully feeding and developing in cattle.
This research supports U.S. Department of Agriculture's research priority on Protecting the Integrity of American Agriculture from Invasive Species.
Full text: https://foundationfar.org/news/ffar-research-explores-new-world-screwworm-vaccine/
4. APHIS Announces Plans To Modernize Chronic Wasting Disease Control in Farmed Cervids, Seeks Comment on Revised Herd Certification Program Standards
APHIS Stakeholder Registry
October 23, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is advancing a modernized, science-driven approach to chronic wasting disease (CWD) control in farmed cervids. This effort reflects extensive stakeholder feedback, recent scientific developments, and years of operational experience across States and Tribal partners. Our goal is a clearer, more effective, producer-focused program that strengthens biosecurity, reduces disease risk, and enhances long-term tools such as predictive genetics and improved diagnostics.
Modernizing CWD Control in Farmed Cervids
APHIS is taking a fresh, science-driven look at how we manage CWD in farmed cervids to ensure the national program is easier to navigate and more responsive to producer needs. This modernization includes updates to the proposed Herd Certification Program (HCP) Standards that reduce regulatory burden, reinforce biosecurity, and incorporate lessons learned from years of research and field operations. Among these proposed updates are shorter trace-out/trace-back timelines, reduced quarantine periods, and clearer science-based criteria for herd release. As a result, fewer trace herds will need to be quarantined, and some may be eligible to be released from quarantine earlier-helping more producers qualify for interstate movement.
A key part of this modernization is shifting away from whole-herd depopulation as the default approach. Genetics-based herd plans and targeted removal of positive animals now provide a more sustainable path for long-term CWD management. As indemnity needs decrease over time, APHIS will reinvest savings into expanded research, including improved diagnostics and deeper studies on how genetics influence susceptibility.
Indemnity will continue for CWD-positive and -exposed animals, especially those required for genetic evaluations or other research. These animals provide the invaluable samples needed to refine and develop diagnostic tools, strengthen predictive genetics, and better understand CWD transmission dynamics.
Additionally, APHIS is planning to develop a modern national recordkeeping system to help producers and States efficiently track herd inventories, submissions, and certification status.
Through these updates, the modernized program will reduce disease risk, enhance biosecurity, improve consistency across States, sustain indemnity support, and expand access to long-term tools such as predictive genetics and advanced diagnostics.
Updated Herd Certification Program Standards
As part of this modernized approach, APHIS is releasing a revised version of the CWD Herd Certification Program (HCP) Standards for public review and comment. The HCP provides a consistent national approach for controlling CWD in farmed cervids and preventing interstate spread.
These revisions respond directly to operational and regulatory concerns raised by State partners and livestock industry stakeholders. The updated standards aim to improve clarity, strengthen herd health, reduce disease risk, streamline compliance, and further align the program with USDA's producer-focused, science-based regulatory direction.
In developing these revisions, APHIS gathered extensive stakeholder input during multiple public meetings and comment sessions, as required under the 2021 CWD Research and Management Act. State and industry partners identified challenges related to traceback and quarantine duration, regulatory clarity, outbreak response timelines, and inconsistent implementation among States. The proposed updates resolve many of these issues while preserving the rigor of the national program.
Key Proposed Changes to Standards
Shorter trace and quarantine periods for white-tailed and mule deer, while maintaining existing timelines for elk and other species based on incubation periods
Updated indemnity prioritization to reduce transmission risk, support timely removal of high-risk animals, and encourage producer participation
Science-based clarifications to address areas where requirements were previously ambiguous, improving national consistency in inspections, surveillance, and sample submission
Predictive genetics guidance to help producers reduce herd susceptibility through selective breeding
Greater consistency in national program administration and compliance
These revisions align the national CWD program with congressional direction, current science, producer needs, and practical realities at the State level. APHIS remains committed to balancing program integrity with clear, workable requirements in close partnership with State and Tribal governments.
The revised standards will be open for a 30-day public comment period starting on October 26, 2026. APHIS will review all feedback before finalizing and implementing the updated guidance. To view the documents or submit comments, go to www.regulations.gov and enter APHIS-2026-0563 in the search field.
See also Federal Register: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-10-26/html/2026-21745.htm
5. California Thoroughbred Tests Positive for EHM
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
October 23, 2026
According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, an 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding in Los Angeles County has tested positive for equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) secondary to equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1). The gelding presented with neurologic signs. He is currently isolated at his home premises and is recovering.
Thirty-seven potentially exposed horses at the gelding's home premises are quarantined.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1147743/california-thoroughbred-tests-positive-for-ehm-2/
6. Wisconsin's PEDV pilot could be a model for other states
The National Swine Health Strategy has two clear goals: reduce the impact of domestic diseases and keep foreign and emerging diseases out.
National Pork Board
National Hog Farmer
October 19, 2026
Eliminating porcine epidemic diarrhea virus nationwide will require coordinated action beyond any single farm. The Wisconsin Pork Association is putting this concept into action through a 24-month PEDV Elimination Pilot Program.
"Our number one goal is eliminating PEDV in the state of Wisconsin," said Keri Retallick, executive vice president of WPA. "We're going to start that regionally in the state, and then we'll move toward the entire state."
This pilot program is designed to bring producers, veterinarians and industry partners together to learn what it takes to move from managing PEDV to eliminating it.