1. Screwworm detected in dog in El Paso County [TX]
By: Fernie Ortiz, Border Report
WAVY.com
October 29, 2026
The number of active New World screwworm cases has risen to 18, with several recent detections occurring in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Officials are warning pet owners and livestock producers to remain vigilant as the parasitic fly poses a threat to animals and national food security.
Key points:
The number of active New World screwworm cases rose to 18 on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
Cochise County, Arizona, reported its first screwworm case on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
The five most recent confirmed cases involved four dogs and one cat, according to the USDA.
A screwworm case was confirmed in a cow in Luna County, New Mexico, on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
Texas State Rep. Mary Gonzalez reported a screwworm detection in a dog in the town of Socorro, Texas.
Full text: https://www.wavy.com/border-report/screwworm-detected-in-dog-in-el-paso-county/
Arkansas Department of Agriculture urges poultry owners to watch for avian influenza, confirms first case of season
By: Alex Kienlen
KARK.com
October 28, 2026
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas Department of Agriculture officials urge caution among poultry owners after the state recorded its first case of avian influenza for the 2026-2027 season.
The agency confirmed Arkansas' first case of the season on Oct. 27 in a backyard flock in eastern Baxter County. Officials said cases continue to spread nationwide.
Bird flu caused the death of Jackie, a California bald eagle who captured hearts
Officials said avian influenza, sometimes called bird flu, is highly contagious and can spread through infected birds, equipment and other materials, posing a threat to poultry operations and the state's $6.7 billion poultry industry.
Under state rules, suspected or confirmed cases must be reported immediately, and officials may quarantine affected properties to prevent further spread.
Poultry owners are encouraged to follow biosecurity measures, including limiting contact with wild birds, restricting visitors and isolating new birds for at least two weeks.
Bird flu detected in Iowa commercial flock for first time in nearly a year
By Cami Koons
Iowa Capital Dispatch
October 29, 2026
A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in a commercial turkey flock of approximately 44,400 birds in Sac County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
While the HPAI H5N1 outbreak has been ongoing since February 2022, Iowa has not reported an outbreak of the bird flu in a commercial flock since December 2025. The state has reported seven outbreaks of the virus in backyard, mixed species or game bird flocks in 2026.
Iowa has had more total birds affected by the bird flu than any other state since the start of the outbreak, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
3. Avian flu activity increases in Midwest, West Coast poultry
By Stephanie Soucheray, MA
CIDRAP News
October 28, 2026
H5N1 avian flu activity is increasing across the United States, with 29 confirmations in the past 30 days, including 11 commercial flocks and 18 backyard flocks. A total of 1.32 million birds have been affected in the past month, according to the most recent update from the US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Of note are several large outbreaks on turkey facilities, including ones in Roseau County, Minnesota, with 57,500 birds, and a turkey breeder hen facility in Barron County, Wisconsin, with 13,500 birds. In Dickey County, North Dakota, a flock of 60,600 birds was hit at a commercial turkey meat facility.
The largest outbreak reported in October is in Clinton County, Illinois, where a commercial table egg-layer farm with 934,600 chickens reported H5N1.
West Coast wild birds affected
Along the West Coast are several new backyard flock notifications, including in Solano and Sacramento counties in California. Kittitas County, Washington also reported a backyard outbreak.
Alameda, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento counties in California also reported several recent wild-bird detection among Canada geese and American white pelicans in October, which is typical with migratory patterns.
4. Three States Test a New Path Toward a PEDV-Free Swine Herd
Dr. Marisa Rotolo with the National Pork Board says the PEDV elimination pilots will identify effective practices and producers' needs to reduce the disease in the U.S. swine herd.
By Marion Kirkpatrick, David Nelson
RFDTV.com
October 29, 2026
HENDERSONVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) - The National Pork Board is working with industry partners and state pork organizations to develop a coordinated approach to eliminating porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) from the U.S. swine herd.
PEDV first entered the United States in the spring of 2013 and quickly became a major concern for the pork industry.
Dr. Marisa Rotolo, director of swine health with the National Pork Board, joined Market Day Report to discuss state-led pilot programs, years of disease surveillance, and how the industry hopes to move from managing PEDV outbreaks to eliminating the disease.
In her interview with RFD-TV, Rotolo said the virus primarily affects young pigs and can cause severe diarrhea and high mortality, making it a devastating disease for affected farms.
She said the industry has made significant progress in managing the disease since its introduction, including shortening outbreaks and improving biosecurity practices.
Full text: https://www.rfdtv.com/three-states-test-a-new-path-toward-a-pedv-free-swine-herd
5. USDA Sec.: Mariposa Port of Entry set to reopen to cattle after 14-month closure [AZ]
By: Eddie Celaya
KGUN.com
October 28, 2026
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Ariz. (KGUN) - Cattle shipments from Mexico are expected to resume at the Mariposa Port of Entry on November 30, ending a roughly 14-month suspension tied to the spread of New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that threatens livestock.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the anticipated reopening Tuesday during a visit to Nogales, where she toured facilities used to screen cattle and produce entering the United States.
The facilities have undergone upgrades aimed at detecting and preventing the spread of the parasite, including additional inspection equipment and infrastructure.
"We're managing the new world screw worm," Rollins said. "Got that under control - we're not out of the woods yet. But we are to the point where understand how to contain."
6. USDA Report Examines Why Rural Cattle Vet Shortages Persist
USDA researchers found that some counties return to shortage status within a few years of filling a veterinary position. Declining rural practice income and the structure of cattle production may help explain why maintaining long-term access to care remains difficult.
By Andrea Bedford
Bovine Veterinarian
October 29, 2026
A rural county can recruit a food-animal veterinarian, receive federal support to fill a shortage position, and appear on the shortage list again just a few years later. This pattern, observed by USDA researchers, raises a critical question: What does it take to sustain veterinary access in rural cattle country?
A September 2026 report from USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS), Food-animal Veterinarians and the Persistence of Rural Shortage Areas, examines recurring shortages alongside changes in veterinary practice economics and the distribution of cattle production.
"Shortages remain widespread and persistent," says Brandon Genetin, USDA ERS research economist and lead author of the report. "They are dispersed across the United States but are most concentrated in rural areas where many counties repeatedly appear as shortage zones year after year."
Full text: https://www.bovinevetonline.com/news/usda-report-examines-why-rural-cattle-vet-shortages-persist
7. Representative Marcy Kaptur introduces H.R. 10911: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan Act of 2026
By: Quiver Quantative
October 28, 2026
We have received text from H.R. 10911: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan Act of 2026. This bill was received on 2026-10-26, and currently has 2 cosponsors.
Here is a short summary of the bill:
This bill would create a voluntary federal program called the
U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan
(US SHIP) to help prevent and monitor diseases that can affect pigs. The program would be run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with states and the swine industry.
What the program would do:
Set up certification programs for swine facilities that meet certain standards for:
biosecurity
traceability
surveillance for diseases
Full text: https://www.quiverquant.com/news/Representative+Marcy+Kaptur+introduces+H.R.+10911 %3A+U.S.+Swine+Health+Improvement+Plan+Act+of+2026