Two New VSV-Positive Equine Premises Identified in Colorado
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
August 11, 2026
According to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), vesicular stomatitis (VSV) has been confirmed at two new equine premises in Montrose County, Colorado. The facilities are under official quarantine.
Since the start of the current outbreak, 39 VSV-affected premises (29 confirmed positive, 10 presumptive positive) have been identified in Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. All confirmed cases have been vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) serotype.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1146464/2-new-vsv-positive-equine-premises-identified-in-colorado/
Fifth Equine WNV Case Confirmed in California
EDC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
August 11, 2026
On Aug. 7, a 3-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Placer County, California, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The gelding, who is unvaccinated, developed clinical signs on Aug. 4, including ataxia, hypersensitivity, and mild muscle fasciculations. He is currently still alive.
This is California's fifth confirmed equine WNV case of 2026.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1146462/5th-equine-wnv-case-confirmed-in-california/
2. Health officials look for swine flu after pig dies at fair
By: Rachel Van Gilder
WOODtv.com
August 10, 2026
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Health officials are telling anyone who had contact with the pigs at the Kent County Youth Fair last week to watch out for symptoms of swine flu.
Those symptoms are similar to seasonal flu and include fever; lethargy and lack of appetite; cough, runny nose and sore throat; eye irritation; and nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. For most people, swine flu is mild, but it can become more serious, particularly in patients who have underlying health conditions.
Anyone who had contact with the pigs at the Kent County Youth Fair should contact their doctor, the Kent County Health Department Communicable Disease Unit at 616.632.7228 or their local health department to get tested if they show symptoms within 10 days.
In a joint release Monday, KCHD, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said one pig died and several others got sick at the fair Friday. The pig that died was not tested for the illness, but other pigs who were showing symptoms were tested and swine influenza was found in them, MDARD said.
Full text: https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/health-officials-look-for-swine-flu-after-pig-dies-at-fair/
3. Study finds MRV, PAdV present but low risk in U.S. pigs
For pork producers, results suggest that MRV and PAdV are both capable of infecting pigs and can contribute to enteric and respiratory disease.
Swine Health Information Center
National Hog Farmer
August 10, 2026
The Swine Health Information Center funded a study to examine whether mammalian orthoreovirus and porcine adenovirus are present in U.S. swine herds and whether they pose health risks. Led by Wenjun Ma, University of Missouri, the study suggests that MRV and PAdV can infect pigs and contribute to general enteric disease but that these viruses are not associated with severe or unique clinical signs. These findings suggest that both viruses circulate in swine populations, with evidence pointing toward intestinal shedding or prior exposure rather than widespread active disease in routine tissue submissions. For producers and their veterinarians, this study helps interpret diagnostic findings on MRV or PAdV, enabling more informed herd health decisions.
Read the industry summary of study #24-022 here: https://www.swinehealth.org/results/?_sp=c92b87de-279d-4538-8a53-a0db3cc4f4d6.1786389393589
[Note: 24-022 is the third report down in the list.]
Emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens remain an ongoing threat to the U.S. swine industry, and undiagnosed disease outbreaks continue to highlight important gaps in pathogen surveillance and characterization. Although MRV and PAdV have been reported in pigs in other countries globally, contemporary data for U.S. swine populations are limited. Previous research suggests that MRV and PAdV may contribute to clinically significant disease in swine, yet their prevalence, epidemiology, pathogenic potential and impact on production remain poorly defined. This project was designed to address two objectives: 1) define the prevalence and epidemiology of MRV and PAdV in US swine herds and 2) determine the pathogenicity and transmissibility of MRV and PAdV in weaned pigs, including the potential contribution of co-infection to clinical disease.
4. UMN-CAHFS survey sheds light on small-scale swine farms
Forty percent of the respondents had a PIN, but very few had a Secure Pork Supply Plan or were enrolled in the United States Swine Health Improvement Plan.
By University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety
National Hog Farmer
August 11, 2026
"Small-scale" farming can mean a lot of different things to different audiences, but farmers of all types, from hobby and show herds to pasture-raised and organic, want to raise healthy pigs. With funding from the USDA, researchers at the University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety recently conducted a survey to understand more about the unique challenges and needs for small-scale and related types of pig farmers in Minnesota, California and Texas, with an emphasis on understanding better their pig health management and disease preparedness.
Survey responses were received from 123 farmers and analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The majority of farmers raised their pigs to produce pork for external sale (80%) or personal consumption (68%), and nearly half had been raising pigs for more than 10 years. The respondents' farms had an average of 52 pigs and a median of 17 pigs, with the largest herd size being 650 pigs. Many farmers were seasonal, only raising feeder pigs during parts of the year.
5. USDA opens SPUR program applications
Qualifying beef processors must submit completed applications by Sept. 11, 2026.
Beef Magazine
August 10, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening the application process for the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) program, a $500 million initiative designed to bolster independent and regional beef processing capacity and support American ranchers.
Beginning Aug. 10, 2026, USDA will email partially prefilled applications to eligible processing establishments.
The Farm Service Agency is administering SPUR at the national office level under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act, using USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service data to identify eligible establishments and payment amounts.
Qualifying processors include federally inspected establishments and those participating in the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program or the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program. Establishments must be operational at the time of application.
University and state-owned entities and the four largest beef processing companies are ineligible to receive SPUR payments.
Full text: https://www.beefmagazine.com/policy/usda-opens-spur-program-applications
6. USDA Secretary Returns To South Texas For Screwworm Drone Test
By J. Salinas
KURV.com
August 11,2026
Two federal agencies are working together to try to stop the spread of the New World Screwworm.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott were in Edinburg yesterday. They watched as Border Patrol agents launched drones that will reportedly be used to help detect the screwworm in South Texas.
The drones will reportedly observe livestock and take pictures of animals with visible wounds. Those cases will be investigated for possible screwworm infection. There have been 45 reported cases of screwworm found in the U.S. since early June.
Source: https://www.kurv.com/usda-secretary-returns-to-south-texas-for-screwworm-drone-test/