BioSec Bob here on Friday, May 1, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
First up this morning, we’ve got confirmation of pseudorabies in commercial swine herds in Iowa and Texas. Meatingplace is reporting this marks the first confirmed cases in commercial operations since 2004. The USDA has officially verified the outbreak, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued a statement this morning acknowledging the detections and noting coordination with federal partners on response. Those are significant herds we’re talking about — not small backyard operations. The disease causes fever, neurological signs, and reproductive failure in affected animals, and it spreads readily through direct contact and respiratory secretions.
Moving to biosecurity strategy, some swine producers are making changes to their barn air management. According to Pork Business, an increasing number of operations are shifting away from strict isolation protocols and instead investing in filtration systems for incoming air. The reasoning is that good filtration can reduce pathogen load without the operational constraints of full isolation — producers keep animals closer to normal conditions while still capturing airborne pathogens before they reach the herd.
Over on the poultry side, the CDC’s confirming a salmonella outbreak linked to backyard chicken flocks across 13 states. Allrecipes and other outlets are reporting that 34 people have gotten sick so far. The outbreak appears concentrated in backyard poultry operations rather than commercial farms, but it’s a reminder that these disease risks don’t respect the line between small-scale and industrial production.
On a brighter note, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has opened a new sterile fly production facility aimed at protecting livestock from New World screwworm. According to 3tres3.com, the facility will produce sterile insects for release — the strategy being that mating with wild populations crashes their reproduction. It’s a long-term tool for livestock health, particularly as screwworm risks shift northward with changing climate patterns.
Finally, National Hog Farmer has published new data on the economics of PRRS-resistant pig adoption. Operations switching to genetically resistant breeding stock are seeing measurable impacts on production costs and disease mortality — though the full financial picture depends on herd size, current PRRS status, and replacement timelines. Worth running the numbers on your own operation if you haven’t already.
Keep your eyes on those pseudorabies developments — this one bears close watching.