1. The News Alerts will return Monday October 26, 2026.
2. Texas Releases New World Screwworm Infested Zones
APHIS Stakeholder Registry
October 13, 2026
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has issued a new executive order, releasing two New World screwworm (NWS) infested zones and modifying another, with concurrence from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). These actions come after State and Federal subject matter experts confirmed that the areas met requirements outlined in APHIS' New World Screwworm Response Playbook for zone release.
The zones being released or modified are: Release of Infested Zones 14.A and 06.B and modification of Infested Zone 04.E
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.
3. Two Confirmed, 2 Suspected Pigeon Fever Cases in Oregon
EDCC Health Watch
Equus
October 13, 2026
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has reported new confirmed and suspected pigeon fever cases to the Equine Disease Communication Center. In Crook County, one horse has tested positive, and two horses have been exposed. In Deschutes County, one horse has tested positive, two horses are suspected to be positive, and 19 horses have been exposed.
4. New Equine WNV Cases Identified in Tennessee and California
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
October 13, 2026
Two new equine West Nile virus (WNV) cases have been reported to the Equine Disease Communication Center.
In Shelby County, Tennessee, one horse has tested positive, and one horse is suspected to be positive.
In Shasta County, California, an unvaccinated, 7-year-old Andalusian mare tested positive on Oct. 6 after developing clinical signs on Sept. 26, including hypersensitivity and proprioceptive deficits. She is alive and recovering. This is California's 15th confirmed equine case of 2026.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1147565/new-equine-wnv-cases-identified-in-tennessee-and-california/
5. Battling PRRS, Feed Costs and Disease Risk: Top Takeaways from SDSU Swine Day
Researchers, veterinarians and market analysts tackle top challenges head-on with practical, barn-level data aimed directly at producer profitability.
By Farm Journals Pork
PorkBusiness.com
October 13, 2026
Volatile hog markets and stubborn health challenges like PRRS make a pork producer's job more challenging than ever. At the 10th annual South Dakota State University Swine Day, researchers, veterinarians and market analysts tackled those challenges head-on with practical, barn-level data aimed directly at producer profitability.
Topics:
* Grow-Finish Biosecurity: Protecting the Margin
* Nutrition That Fights Disease: Student Research Highlights
* Risk Management in Uncertain Markets
6. Blue Light Treatment Could Reduce Campylobacter in Poultry Processing
New research found that violet-blue light treatment was effective against 64 strains of Campylobacter, including antibiotic-resistant strains, suggesting a potential chemical-free intervention for poultry processors.
By Jacqueline Mitchell, Editor, QA
Quality Assurance Magazine
October 13, 2026
A violet-blue light treatment could offer poultry processors a chemical-free method for reducing Campylobacter contamination, according to new research from the University of Reading and the U.K.'s Animal and Plant Health Agency.
In a study published in Microbiology, researchers tested a technique known as violet-blue photodynamic inactivation (VB-PDI) against 64 strains of Campylobacter. The treatment killed all of the strains tested, including multidrug-resistant strains.
VB-PDI uses visible violet-blue light to activate molecules naturally present within bacterial cells. The process produces reactive oxygen species that kill the bacteria without requiring direct contact with the food or the addition of chemicals.
Researchers said the technology could potentially be used on poultry carcasses in processing plants after slaughter to reduce contamination before products reach consumers.