1. Vesicular stomatitis confirmed in Colorado horse, premises under quarantine
Kiowa County Press
May 9, 2026
Colorado has become the second state in the country with a confirmed case of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) this year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory reported positive test results on May 7, 2026, on samples submitted from a horse in Montezuma County. The premises has been placed under state quarantine.
The infected horse was initially examined by the local accredited veterinarian, who contacted the state after suspecting VSV. A field veterinary medical officer with the Colorado Department of Agriculture then completed a foreign animal disease investigation and submitted samples to the federal laboratory.
The positive horse is the only symptomatic animal among a small group of horses and cattle on the premises, the department reported. Clinical signs in the affected horse were lip and tongue lesions. The owner had noted increased midge activity in the week prior to the onset of symptoms.
The premises will remain under state quarantine until at least 14 days from the onset of lesions in the last affected animal.
2. Updated Export Certification Guidance Following the Detection of Pseudorabies in an Iowa Swine Herd
USDA APHIS Stakeholder Registry
May 9, 2026
On April 30, 2026, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed pseudorabies (PRV/ Aujeszky's disease) in a commercial swine herd in Iowa. The affected swine were sourced from a transitional herd in Texas. Transitional herds do not impact a state's PRV status; therefore, this guidance applies only to swine and swine product exports from Iowa.
Export Certification Statements
In line with international standards, APHIS will not certify Iowa as Stage V for PRV-or certify that Iowa or the United States is free of PRV for export purposes-until all PRV-quarantined premises in Iowa are released. Before submitting health certificates for USDA endorsement, please ensure all health statements are accurate.
USDA will not certify the following statements:
The United States is free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease in commercial swine.
Iowa only:
Materials originate in states free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease in commercial swine.
The material is derived from animals originated/resided in a State that is Stage V for pseudorabies/Aujeszky's.
Affected premises in Iowa and all farms within "X" miles:
The material is derived from premises free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease.
The material is derived from premises and all premises within "X" miles are free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease.
USDA will certify the following statements, if true:
All states except Iowa:
Materials originate in states free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease in commercial swine.
The material is derived from premises free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease.
The material is derived from premises and all establishments within "X" miles are free of pseudorabies/Aujeszky's disease.
3. Eight Quarter Horses Test Positive for EIA in California; Two New Hampshire Horses Test Positive for Strangles; Michigan Horse Tests Positive for Strangles, 3 Exposed;
Strangles Confirmed in Florida Horse
Eight Quarter Horses Test Positive for EIA in California
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
May 8, 2026
On May 8, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed that eight Quarter Horses in Riverside and San Bernardino counties have tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA).
In San Bernardino County, six horses are confirmed positive, and seven others on the property have potentially been exposed. In Riverside County, a 4-year-old stallion and a 5-year-old mare tested positive, and one other horse on the premises is potentially exposed.
All exposed horses initially tested negative for EIA but will be quarantined and retested after 60 days, as required by the CDFA and USDA. Epidemiological tracing has confirmed these positive cases to be linked. The CDFA has been to each site and is monitoring the situation.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1144332/8-quarter-horses-test-positive-for-eia-in-california/
Two New Hampshire Horses Test Positive for Strangles
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
May 8, 2026
On May 8, the New Hampshire State Veterinarian Office confirmed two horses positive for strangles. One horse resides in Strafford County and is the only animal on the farm. The other horse lives at a boarding facility in Belknap County, which will remain under quarantine until there are no other known new cases.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1144338/2-new-hampshire-horses-test-positive-for-strangles/
Michigan Horse Tests Positive for Strangles, 3 Exposed
EDCC Health Watch
Equus Magazine
May 7, 2026
The Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed a 5-year-old Quarter Horse stallion in Oceana County positive for strangles on May 6, 2026. He began showing signs of swollen, draining lymph nodes on April 23 and is currently recovering. Three other horses have been exposed, and the property is under voluntary quarantine.
Strangles Confirmed in Florida Horse
EDCC Health Watch
Equus Magazine
May 8, 2026
On May 8, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed that a horse at an Alachua County farm tested positive for strangles. Twenty-six other horses on the premises have been exposed, and the property is under quarantine. This is the ninth confirmed farm with strangles in Florida in 2026.
Full text: https://equusmagazine.com/news/edcc-health-watch/strangles-confirmed-in-florida-horse
4. Producers Take the Lead: NPB Launches New Swine Health Advisory Committee
Producer-led group focuses on curbing the economic toll of PRRS and PEDV while shielding the industry from foreign animal diseases.
By Jennifer Shike
Pork Business
May 8, 2026
Recognizing that swine disease carries both a heavy economic price tag and a significant mental burden for producers, the National Pork Board (NPB) has officially launched its Swine Health Advisory Committee. The producer-led group held its inaugural meeting in Des Moines earlier this month to begin shaping the future of the National Swine Health Strategy.
"The National Swine Health Strategy is informed by producers and is for producers," says Dr. Seth Krantz, advisory committee member and NPB board member. "Producers have felt the significant mental and economic stress of swine disease for too long. The time has come for our industry to unite around the long-term mission of improving herd health. It will take daily individual actions and decisions on farms around the nation to make a measurable difference for the entire pork industry, but that is the goal."
The producer-led committee will provide strategic input and guidance to help ensure the National Swine Health Strategy remains aligned with industry priorities and delivers meaningful progress. By providing strategic guidance, the strategy aims to reduce the impact of domestic diseases like porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), lessen the spread of disease, and keep foreign and emerging diseases out.
5. DOJ, USDA Ramp Up Antitrust Investigation Into "Big 4" Beef Packers
As the federal government settles with Agri Stats over data-sharing, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Secretary Brooke Rollins launch a high-stakes investigation into beef market concentration and potential price-fixing.
By Tyne Morgan, Angie Stump Denton
Drovers.com
May 8, 2026
The Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Agriculture are intensifying scrutiny of concentration and pricing practices across the meat industry, announcing this week that federal investigators are ramping up a criminal antitrust investigation into the nation's four largest beef packers.
During a joint press conference Monday at DOJ headquarters, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche framed the effort as part of a broader push to address competition issues in agriculture and food pricing.
"Today we are here to talk about our progress here at the Justice Department to hold meat packers accountable," Blanche says.
Federal officials allege price-fixing and collusion may have contributed to higher meat prices for consumers, while also limiting competition within the cattle industry.
Federal officials allege price-fixing and collusion may have contributed to higher meat prices for consumers, while also limiting competition within the cattle industry.
Full text: https://www.drovers.com/news/ag-policy/doj-usda-ramp-antitrust-investigation-big-4-beef-packers