1. NovoFlyTM Screwworm Strain Readied for Active Duty
By Jan Suszkiw
ARS News Service
August 24, 2026
American scientific ingenuity in the form of sterile fly releases helped eliminate New World screwworm from the country in the 1960s. Now, ARS researchers are combining that ingenuity with next-generation tools to counter new resurgences of the pest threatening livestock and wildlife in New Mexico and Texas.
"Releasing sterile screwworm flies is a proven, decades-old approach to eliminating populations of this pest and preventing the harm it inflicts-physically to livestock animals and wildlife and financially to the producers who raise livestock for our milk, meat, hide and other products," said Kim Lohmeyer, Director of ARS's Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, TX. "Advances in genetics have now given us better tools to understand the screwworm's population dynamics and leverage that knowledge for improved control methods, including sterile fly releases."
The latest example is NovoFly™, an all-male strain of screwworm developed by Lohmeyer's team and university collaborators. With full regulatory approval of NovoFly™, critical resources can be redirected towards producing only males, essentially doubling the number available for SIT releases to eradicate established populations of the pest or isolate outbreaks of it.
Full text: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAARS/bulletins/4269039
2. TAHC Establishes New World Screwworm Movement Requirements for Cattle from Mexico [TX}
Texas Animal Health Commission News Release
August 24, 2026
AUSTIN, TX - The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) executive director issued requirements for all cattle of Mexican origin that enter the United States through a port of entry located outside Texas on or after August 24, 2026.
The executive director order applies to Mexican-imported cattle subsequently moved into Texas, regardless of whether they are moved directly to Texas or held in another state prior to entering Texas. These cattle are required to:
Comply with all applicable requirements for cattle originating from Mexico under Title 4, Part 2, §§ 51.7 and 51.8 of the Texas Administrative Code.
Be identified with an official radio frequency identification device (RFID).
Be accompanied by an electronic certificate of veterinary inspection (eCVI).
Obtain an entry permit before entering Texas.
New World screwworm (NWS) continues to expand in Mexico. These additional requirements supplement existing entry requirements and are intended to protect animal health and support the safe movement of cattle into Texas.
This order is issued pursuant to Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 161 - 168, and applicable regulations found in Title 4, Part 2, Chapters 31 - 60 of the Texas Administrative Code. The order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until modified.
Source: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2026/2026-08-24_EDO_MexicoCattleImports.pdf
3. Moran responds to National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility report [edited]
USDA OIG finds facility lacks proper configuration, commissioning by DHS to conduct high-level biosafety research, animal disease diagnostics.
National Hog Farmer
August 24, 2026
A recent report from the USDA's Office of the Inspector General on the operational status of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Manhattan has found the facility was inadequately prepared for full operations and lacked proper configuration and commissioning by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to conduct high-level biosafety research, animal disease diagnostics, or to obtain select agent registration approval. DHS transferred NBAF to the USDA in February 2024. According to the OIG, USDA accepted the facility without a complete commissioning report.
The OIG notes the USDA has incurred a total monetary impact of $78.4 million as of April 2026. This figure includes at least $75.8 million in questioned costs without recovery, which the USDA spent on remediation, commissioning and operational expenses for high biosafety laboratory spaces. The agency states an additional $2.6 million represents funds that could be put to "better use" for work in the new commissioning process that has not yet been obligated.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) is calling on the USDA to bring NBAF to full operational capacity.
"I reviewed the report from USDA's Office of Inspector General following its September 2025 site visit. It is disappointing that NBAF was not fully operational when the facility was transferred from DHS to USDA in 2024. Despite DHS's failure, then-USDA Secretary Vilsack testified that NBAF was expected to be significantly operational by the end of 2024. Since then, I have insisted that USDA quickly bring NBAF to full operational capacity - a point I have emphasized to Secretary Rollins. In my role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, we have provided funding necessary for successful completion of the facility," Moran said.
Seventh Equine WNV Case Confirmed in California
EDCC Health Watch
EquiManagement.com
August 25, 2026
On Aug. 21, a yearling Quarter Horse filly in Stanislaus County, California, tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). The filly developed clinical signs on Aug. 10, including mild ataxia, muscle fasciculations, and a dull mentation. She is currently recovering.
This is California's seventh confirmed equine WNV case of 2026.
Full text: https://equimanagement.com/news/edcc-health-watch/7th-equine-wnv-case-confirmed-in-california-2/
EIA Cases Confirmed in Alberta and British Columbia
EDCC Health Watch
TheHorse.com
August 25, 2026
According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, two horses have tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA), including one in Foothills No. 31, Alberta, and one in Cowichan Valley, British Columbia.
In Foothills No. 31, Alberta, the horse was tested to fulfill a facility biosecurity requirement. It was not displaying clinical signs at the time of sampling.
In Cowichan Valley, British Columbia, the horse was tested because it was displaying clinical signs compatible with the disease. The horse was purchased from a premises in Alberta in December 2025.
Movement controls have been placed on the positive horses and exposed animals. Initial reports indicate that there are other equines on both affected premises.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1146800/eia-cases-confirmed-in-alberta-and-british-columbia/
5. Rahul Kumar Named Director of CT Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab
Kumar is an accomplished veterinary diagnostic leader with over a decade of experience in the field
UConn Today
August 25, 2026
Rahul Kumar, an incoming clinical professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, will serve as the new director of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL).
The CVMDL is housed in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR).
"I am thrilled that Dr. Kumar will serve in this critical role," says Kumar Venkitanarayanan, dean of CAHNR. "The CVMDL provides essential surveillance and diagnostic expertise to residents and agencies in our state and the region, which help keep our communities safer from zoonotic disease."
Kumar is an accomplished veterinary diagnostic leader with over a decade of experience in the field.
Before coming to UConn, Kumar served as the director of the C.E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and Cotton Ivy Laboratory, a statewide diagnostic and food-safety system with a $10 million annual budget and a team of roughly 70 scientists and staff. There he maintained full compliance with USDA, FDA, and ISO/IEC standards, modernized diagnostic infrastructure, and secured multimillion-dollar federal, state, and industry funding to expand testing capacity.
Full text: https://today.uconn.edu/2026/08/rahul-kumar-named-director-of-ct-veterinary-medical-diagnostic-lab/
6. Watch the August 5, 2026, ZOHU Call Video
CDC
August 25, 2026
Presentations:
A novel presentation of coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) in a southern sea otter
Heather S. Harris, DVM, MPVM, DACVPM, Associate Veterinarian
The Marine Mammal Center
Enhancing One Health outcomes with decision analysis: Case studies across wildlife disease systems
Jonathan Cook, PhD, Research Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Eastern Ecological Science Center
Outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza a (H5N1) among house cats: A case series involving oseltamivir treatment
Kristen K. Coleman, PhD, Assistant Professor
University of Maryland School of Public Health
AND
Jacob F. Gomez, DVM, CEO/Veterinarian
Cross Street Small Animal VH, Inc.
Video link: https://tinyurl.com/2ywzaqxk