1. USDA shares roadmap for screwworm playbook reviews
Quarterly cycle of for reviewing stakeholder feedback and lessons learned ensures continual improvement in response.
USDA-APHIS
Beef Magazine
August 27, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service is sharing a new roadmap outlining how the agency will regularly review the New World screwworm (NWS) Response Playbook. The roadmap establishes a quarterly cycle for inviting and reviewing stakeholder feedback, incorporating lessons learned and, as needed, refining guidance to ensure the playbook remains an agile, science-based resource for responders across the U.S.
"We are committed to ensuring our domestic response tools evolve as quickly as the situation does," said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins. "The Response Playbook has already proven to be an outstanding and highly effective guide for our nationwide efforts, as reflected in the low number of cases seen in the United States. We especially acknowledge the strong partnership of the Texas Animal Health Commission and the New Mexico Livestock Board, whose close collaboration with APHIS has been vital in effectively implementing the playbook during the current response. The playbook was always intended to be a living document, and continued insights provided by states, producers, veterinarians, wildlife experts and other partners remain essential to strengthening our readiness."
The NWS Response Playbook outlines critical science-based strategies for federal, state, tribal and local responders, including how to:
Coordinate response operations
Reduce spread and prevent establishment of NWS in new areas
Manage the pest in infested animals
Implement NWS fly surveillance and control measures
Maintain continuity of business
Support efficient information flow and situational awareness
Full text: https://www.beefmagazine.com/policy/usda-shares-roadmap-for-screwworm-playbook-reviews
2. FFAR Research Explores ?Novel Approach to Protect Livestock from New World Screwworm
FFAR News Release
August 27, 2026
As the Southern U.S. continues to navigate cases of New World screwworm, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research?(FFAR) and the University of Notre Dame are investing $140,389 in a ?Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research?(ROAR) grant to evaluate whether an existing drug can be repurposed to kill screwworm larvae.??
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The reemergence of New World screwworm is now threatening U.S. livestock production,?wildlife and agricultural trade. Reports of reduced effectiveness of some commonly used treatments in South America, combined with the limited number of approved control options, underscore the need to evaluate?new approaches. This urgently needed research could provide producers and veterinarians with an additional tool to protect livestock and strengthen U.S. preparedness.
Led by Dr. Lee Haines, associate research professor of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, and Dr. Álvaro Acosta-Serrano, professor of biological science at the University of Notre Dame, a team of researchers are evaluating whether nitisinone, a U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug with an established safety profile in humans, can effectively kill screwworm-related blowfly larvae. Research breakthroughs over the last five years have shown that?nitisinone?also kills several blood-feeding arthropods (including mosquitoes, ticks, kissing bugs,?bed bugs,?tsetse flies and stable flies) by blocking a key enzyme they need to digest blood, which is also found in screwworms.?
Using the closely related secondary screwworm as a model, the team is testing nitisinone's ability to kill screwworm larvae and adults, with a primary focus on larval toxicity and the drug's potential to target screwworms in the wound environment. Researchers are also establishing methods to assess how nitisinone affects fly growth,?reproduction and survival.The results will provide critical data to establish the dosing and additional parameters needed to guide future primary screwworm trials.
3. FDA Issues Emergency Use Authorization for Generic Drug to Prevent New World Screwworm in Cattle
FDA News Release
Yahoo Finance
August 27, 2026
Silver Spring, Md., Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Bimectin (ivermectin) injection for the prevention of New World screwworm (NWS) infestations (myiasis) in cattle when administered within 24 hours of birth, at the time of castration, or at the appearance of a wound - advancing the Trump Administration's goal of safeguarding American agriculture from NWS. Bimectin injection is not authorized for use in lactating dairy cows or in calves that will be processed for veal.
"This authorization reflects the FDA's commitment to expanding generic drug options against New World screwworm," said Timothy Schell, Ph.D., director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. "By authorizing both generic and pioneer products, the Agency is ensuring producers aren't dependent on a single manufacturer or product to protect their herds."
To maintain the continued safety of the food supply and avoid drug residues, it is critical that cattle producers carefully follow the 35-day slaughter withdrawal time and not administer this drug in lactating dairy cows and calves that will be processed for veal.
4. USDA Tours Potential Site for New Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Arizona
Officials toured a potential site in Arizona this week as restrictions continue to reshape cattle movement with Mexico with a phased border reopening plan in motion.
By Neal Burnette-Irwin, Marion Kirkpatrick
RFDTV.com
August 27, 2026
DOUGLAS, Ariz. (RFD News) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering a new sterile fly dispersal facility in Arizona as it continues efforts to combat New World screwworm and begins a phased plan to reopen the border to feeder cattle imports.
The department toured a potential site this week as screwworm restrictions continue to reshape cattle movement and beef trade with Mexico.
USDA expects Mexican cattle exports to fall 80 percent this year to about 45,000 head. Restrictions have significantly slowed cattle movement into the U.S., leaving more animals to move through Mexican feedlots and slaughter plants.
Mexico's beef production is estimated to increase 11 percent, while beef exports are expected to climb 23 percent to about 400,000 metric tons.
Source: https://www.rfdtv.com/usda-tours-potential-site-for-new-sterile-fly-dispersal-facility-in-arizona
5. USDA confirms new H5N1 avian flu cases in poultry, dairy cattle
By Stephanie Soucheray, MA
CIDRAP News
August 27, 2026
After nearly 30 days with no updates, the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) this week posted several recent H5N1 avian flu detections in both commercial poultry and dairy cattle.
In the past 30 days there have been three confirmed detections in dairy cows, with Texas reporting two affected herds and Utah reporting a single detection.
So far this year 85 cattle herds have had confirmed H5N1 infections. Last year APHIS tracked 171 H5N1 outbreaks in cattle. In 2024, the year the virus was first detected in cows, the United States saw 917 herds infected.
Poultry operation hit
South Dakota is reporting a large H5N1 outbreak among commercial poultry breeding operations in Edmunds County, according to a separate APHIS tracker, with 29,700 birds affected. South Dakota reported another outbreak in Brule County with 2,800 birds.
In Idaho, two smaller outbreaks were confirmed in birds in Ada and Canyon counties. In the past 30 days, APHIS has confirmed outbreaks in two commercial and three backyard US flocks.
6. USDA identifies 5 Ohio farm-vet shortage areas. Here's where they are
By Michael Johnson
Cleveland.com
August 26, 2026
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated five Ohio areas as rural food-animal veterinary shortages for 2026, including areas centered on Holmes and Tuscarawas counties and Richland and Ashland counties.
The five designations include 10 must-serve counties, where veterinarians receiving federal loan repayment must perform qualifying work. They also list 18 may-serve counties, where those veterinarians can provide additional qualifying service, according to USDA's 2026 veterinary shortage records.
Holmes and Tuscarawas form one must-serve area, with Coshocton, Wayne, Stark and Carroll available for additional qualifying service. Richland and Ashland form another, with Knox, Morrow and Crawford also included.