1. MDARD Announces Detection of Bovine Tuberculosis-Positive Herd in Presque Isle County [MI]
Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Deveopment
November 13, 2025
LANSING, Mich.- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting a case of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a beef herd from Presque Isle County, located north of Michigan's Modified Accredited Zone (MAZ).
The case was detected during the herd s annual whole herd surveillance test. This is Michigan s 84th cattle herd to be identified with bovine TB since 1998, and the first bovine TB-infected herd detected in the state since January 2025.
"The whole herd surveillance testing performed on all commercial cattle herds in the MAZ and in the counties surrounding this area (like Presque Isle) is a critical tool for identifying new cases of bovine TB. While finding a new case is never ideal, we can all take action to decrease the opportunities for the disease to spread," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "Bovine TB is a persistent and challenging disease to address. Hunters, producers, academics, industry stakeholders, animal-health professionals, and state and federal agencies all have a vital role to play in combatting this disease and protecting animal and human health."
2. Secretary Rollins Leads Largest USDA Trade Mission to Mexico, Participates in New World Screwworm Joint Reviews
USDA Office of Communications Bulletin
November 13, 2025
(Washington, D.C.)?-?Last week in Mexico City, Mexico, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins led the largest U.S. Department of Agriculture agribusiness trade mission in the history of our country. During the mission to Mexico, 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups, six state departments of agriculture, and 150 participants conducted more than 500 business to business meetings over three days. This was a critical opportunity for American business to further trade ties and for USDA to continue its aggressive response to New World Screwworm (NWS) in Mexico and continue to hold Mexico accountable for its commitments to the 1944 Water Treaty.
"The trading and diplomatic relationship between our two countries is of the utmost importance to President Trump and American farmers and ranchers. Whether it is securing the Southern Border from illegal migration, combatting New World Screwworm, or expanding market access for American agricultural products, we are working every day to put American interests first. I thank President Claudia Sheinbaum for welcoming me to the Presidential Palace where we had a productive and positive conversation about how we will continue to work closely together to eradicate the NWS which is negatively impacting both our economies, including conducting a comprehensive joint review of our NWS response and efforts to ensure enforcement of our joint responsibilities in the 1944 water treaty," said Secretary Brooke Rollins. "This week was an incredible opportunity to connect buyers and sellers with over 500 meetings over three days, pushing for American exports into Mexico's ethanol market, and discuss the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement."
In addition to participating in this trade mission, Secretary Rollins met with the team at Mexico's National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA)?Headquarters NWS Control Room to showcase bilateral efforts to combat the spread of NWS in Mexico. Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins accompanied Secretary Rollins on the trip and visited the State of Chiapas to review NWS containment practices and enforcement.
Full text: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/3fb1465
3. USDA Announces Opening of Sterile Fly Dispersal Facility in Tampico, Mexico
USDA Office of Communications Bulletin
November 13, 2025
(Washington, D.C.)?- Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) - the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon.
"The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of screwworm. The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies and continue to push the pest south," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "Stopping the spread of screwworm is a top priority for the entire Trump Administration. Last week I had a productive meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and my counterpart Secretary Julio Berdegue on the joint response to screwworm. We are boosting our efforts and completing a joint review of our screwworm operations in Mexico to ensure our protocols are being followed. As we enter the winter months, we continue to prioritize the response in Mexico and the rest of our five-pronged plan (PDF, 434 KB) to protect U.S. livestock and the livelihoods of American farmers and ranchers."
There are two methods of dispersing sterile insects - aerial dispersal and ground release chambers. Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Ground release chambers are used when there's a need to quickly deploy sterile insects outside of the dispersal facility range.
Full text: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAOC/bulletins/3fb1841
4. Americas unite to tackle African swine fever, CSF
Meeting objectives included strengthening biosecurity measures, focusing on border areas, as part of prevention and containment strategies.
National Hog Farmer
November 12, 2025
The first meeting of the Standing Group of Experts on Transboundary Swine Diseases of the GF-TADs of the Americas was held in person in September. Considering the global epidemiological context of African swine fever and the regional efforts to control to control this disease, as well as classical swine fever, the first meeting of the SGE-TSD was critical. The group was formed through the merger of two previous initiatives - the SGE-ASF and the SGE-CSF - with the aim of optimizing resources and strengthening regional cooperation in prevention, preparedness and response to these diseases.
The creation of the SGE-TSD responds to the need for a more integrated approach to addressing the sanitary risks threatening swine production in the Americas, particularly in the context of increasing globalization of trade and travel. Moreover, current efforts to enhance epidemiological surveillance and achieve CSF-free status are recognized as key contributions to strengthening regional capacities to face ASF-related risks.
Meeting objectives were to:
Reactivate the group's activities following its recent merger, reinforcing its role as a regional technical platform for addressing transboundary swine diseases.
Update the epidemiological information on ASF and CSF, based on the most recent data available both regionally and globally.
Review and strengthen control and biosecurity measures, with a particular focus on border areas, as part of prevention and containment strategies.
Define strategic guidelines to enhance the capacity of countries and organizations in risk management, aligned with the Global Initiative for the Control of ASF.
Establish and consolidate coordination channels among GF-TADs members, promoting technical exchange, cooperation and joint response to sanitary emergencies.
5. Avian influenza cases continue in Michigan turkeys
Meanwhile in Canada, new cases of avian flu are also reported in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.
By Roy Graber
WATTAgNet.com
November 13, 2025
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been found in two more commercial meat turkey flocks in Ottawa County, Michigan.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported that the presence of HPAI was confirmed in both flocks on November 12.
One of the flocks included 35,900 turkeys, while the other flock included 28,700 turkeys.
According to information from APHIS, the presence of HPAI has been confirmed in nine commercial poultry flocks in Michigan to date in 2025. All nine have been turkey flocks, and all but one have been in Ottawa County. The other was in Allegan County.
6. North Dakota Rodeo Horse Tests Positive for EIA
The horse lived in McKenzie County.
EDCC Health Watch
Equus Magazine
November 12, 2025
On Sept. 11, a 2-year-old draft-cross filly used for rodeo in McKenzie County, North Dakota, tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The horse was tested for a sale and was not displaying clinical signs. She was euthanized.
Full text: https://equusmagazine.com/news/edcc-health-watch/north-dakota-rodeo-horse-tests-positive-for-eia
7. New pig model advances respiratory disease prevention
Mucosal delivery through inhalation, nasal sprays or topical application allows antibodies to target infection sites directly.
The Pirbright Institute
National Hog Farmer
November 10, 2025
Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have developed a robust large-animal model to show how the mucosal delivery of monoclonal antibodies and other immunoprophylactic agents can help prevent transmission of respiratory pathogens.
Supported by funding from the Gates Foundation, the findings establish the pig as a powerful and practical model for studying prevention of respiratory infections, addressing a critical gap in preclinical testing.
Writing in npj Vaccines, the Pirbright team explain how they used pigs, a natural host for influenza viruses, to create an advanced experimental platform to study how mAbs can be delivered directly to mucosal surfaces such as the lungs and nasal passages to block viral transmission. mAbs are lab-made proteins, designed to target and attach to specific proteins on the surface of cells, such as cancer cells or pathogens.
Mucosal delivery through inhalation, nasal sprays or topical application allows antibodies to target infection sites directly. The approach may enable lower effective doses, faster immune responses and improved patient comfort compared to systemic (injected) treatments. The method could be used to treat respiratory illnesses like influenza, coronaviruses or respiratory syncytial virus infections,