1. Texas Releases New World Screwworm Infested Zone in Texas
APHIS Stakeholder Registry
September 16, 2026
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has released a New World screwworm (NWS) infested zone in Texas, with concurrence from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This action comes after State and Federal subject matter experts confirmed that the area met requirements outlined in APHIS' New World Screwworm Response Playbook for zone release.
The zone being released is: Infested Zone 09
Releasing 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.
2. New Antibody Test Detects H5N1 Exposure Across Birds, Cattle, and Humans With a Single Assay
German researchers develop a luminescence-based ELISA that could close a critical gap in H5N1 surveillance across species
By Global Biodefense Staff
Global Biodefense
September 15, 2026
As H5N1 continues turning up in animals no one expected it to infect, from dairy cattle to marine mammals to household cats, the tools available to track where the virus has already spread have struggled to keep pace. A new test developed by researchers in Germany and the Netherlands addresses this challenge: a single antibody assay validated to work reliably across a strikingly broad range of species, birds and mammals alike, including humans.
The study* published recently in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. The researchers built a new double-antigen ELISA, a type of antibody test, using luciferase-based detection technology, a method that produces a glowing light signal to indicate a positive result, offering high sensitivity while working with very small sample volumes.
[See: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.01907-25 ]
The core problem the test addresses is a longstanding gap in H5N1 surveillance: most existing antibody tests were developed and validated primarily for poultry, and their reliability drops off, or simply remains unverified, when applied to other bird species or to mammals. That gap has become increasingly consequential as the current H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b panzootic has spilled over into more than 80 mammalian species since 2016, including a 2024 outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle that has since spread to more than 1,000 farms across 18 states, alongside documented infections in cats, other farm animals, and farmworkers.
Full text: https://globalbiodefense.com/2026/09/15/multi-species-h5n1-assay-birds-cattle-humans/
3. Colorado Equine Premises Quarantined for Presumptive Vesicular Stomatitis
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
September 15, 2026
According to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), one new equine premises in Montezuma County, Colorado, has presumptive positive cases of vesicular stomatitis (VSV). The facility is under quarantine.
4. First West Nile Virus-Positive Horse Identified in Missaukee County [MI]
Mosquitoes will continue to be active until there has been a hard freeze; take precautions to protect your animals, yourself, and your family
MDARD
September 15, 2026
LANSING, Mich.?- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD)?confirmed the state's first detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in a three-year-old standardbred-Friesian mare from Missaukee County. This is the first case of WNV reported in a domestic animal for 2026. The mare is currently responding to medical treatment and is believed to be unvaccinated.
"Despite the recent cooler nightly temperatures being experienced around Michigan, the mosquitoes carrying diseases like WNV, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) and other mosquito-borne diseases will remain alive and active until there has been at least one hard freeze where the temperatures fall below 28 degrees Fahrenheit," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "Until this hard freeze happens, it's important Michiganders continue taking all possible precautions to keep mosquitoes away from animals, themselves and their families."
5. Tracking the Path of New World Screwworm
ARS is employing innovative modeling techniques to predict where New World screwworm infestations may emerge in the U.S.
ARS News
September 15, 2026
New cases of New World screwworm have recently surfaced in the United States, and with them the critical need to track its paths to determine where future infestations may occur. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are employing predictive models as part of a forward-thinking approach to manage New World screwworm. This strategy allows USDA agencies to act earlier, respond faster, and direct resources where they are needed the most to protect U.S. livestock, pets, and wildlife.
"Everything in modern agriculture and pest management is moving toward precision intervention and that includes the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for control of New World Screwworm. Modeling their movement and using this information for optimal placement maximizes our impact and hastens eradication" said Dr. Scott Hutchins, Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics at USDA.
Predictive models use advanced analytic tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to interpret ecological, environmental, and historical information to predict where New World screwworm is likely to become established and the potential pathways it may follow to spread. The models look at the following factors:
Ecological and habitat suitability to identify landscapes and habitats that naturally support New World screwworm and map the regions in which this pest could move through favorable environments.
Environmental conditionsto monitor key factors such as temperature and precipitation, because they can directly influence New World screwworm survival, reproduction, and spread. Changes in the weather, such as seasonal changes, can raise or lower the risk of New World screwworm infestations.
Historical outbreaks and patterns to anticipate where New World screwworm may move next. The models also review past management efforts, highlighting actions that effectively slowed this pest and those that were not successful. This information will aid in the development of new mitigation strategies.
Full text: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAARS/bulletins/42ade91
Avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry flock [WI]
Barron News-Shield
September 16, 2026
State and federal agricultural officials have confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Barron County.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are responding jointly to the outbreak. Authorities have quarantined the infected premises to restrict the movement of poultry and related products.
The operation is located near Rice Lake, with 79,088 birds affected.
Full text: https://www.news-shield.com/news/free_news/article_205bd1b4-8535-4343-96e0-3153191da451.html
USPOULTRY and Foundation approve 4 board research topics in 2026
Topics address colibacillosis in layers, reduced broiler breeder fertility, PFAS in water supplies and nitrogen-based depopulation.
USPOULTRYU.S. Poultry & Egg Association
Feedstuffs
September 16, 2026
The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the USPOULTRY Foundation have approved four new Board Research Initiative (BRI) topics for this year's competition. The boards of directors for both organizations approved the topics following recommendations from the Foundation Research Advisory Committee, which assesses research proposals for their relevance to the industry and advises the boards on funding decisions.
The BRI was established by the boards of USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation to address urgent challenges facing the poultry and egg industry. Operating alongside the association's long-standing research program, the BRI enhances the original program's impact and long-term success. Each year, the boards select key areas of research for focus, ensuring that the initiative targets the most pressing needs of the industry.
This year's BRI topics address: colibacillosis in commercial layers, reduced fertility in broiler breeders, presence of PFAS in incoming potable water supplies to poultry processing facilities and on-farm depopulation using nitrogen. Visit the USPOULTRY website for complete descriptions of the topics and instructions for submitting a preproposal.
Full text: https://www.feedstuffs.com/poultry/uspoultry-and-foundation-approve-4-board-research-topics-in-2026