BioSec Bob here on Monday, September 14, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
A backyard poultry-linked Salmonella outbreak continues its climb across the United States, according to The Cool Down. The case count has now reached 1,061 people, and health officials are reporting another death connected to the outbreak. The infection has spread geographically across multiple states, with illness linked to contact with backyard flocks. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps, with the outbreak particularly affecting younger children and older adults. Health authorities continue urging people who keep backyard birds to practice strict hand hygiene after handling poultry and to avoid touching their face or eating without washing up first.
On the commercial poultry side, Meatingplace is reporting a recall of chicken breasts due to Listeria concerns. The affected product poses a risk to consumers, particularly pregnant women, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. Details on the scope and distribution of the recall are still developing, but retailers and foodservice operations should verify their inventory against recall notices.
Out of Canada, the Vancouver Sun reports a potential turnaround for British Columbia’s poultry farmers following what’s been a devastating period. After 10 million birds died during an avian influenza outbreak, producers are beginning to see a glimmer of recovery. Flocks are slowly being restocked and operations are ramping back up, though the financial and operational toll remains substantial across the province.
Shifting to hogs and pork trade, Farm Progress is reporting that U.S. pork exports are holding their own despite ongoing trade tensions and disease concerns that had threatened markets earlier this year. Exporters are finding steady demand in key international markets, and shipment volumes are overcoming the headwinds that created uncertainty for producers.
Across the Atlantic in Kenya, the Daily Nation reports a serious African Swine Fever outbreak in Kiambu County, where more than 1,470 pigs have died. The outbreak has hit smallholder and commercial operations in the region, raising concerns about disease control measures and biosecurity protocols in the area.
Wrapping up with the feed side, IndexBox is projecting significant growth in the zinc oxide feed supplement market through 2035, driven by swine nutrition demands and shifting regulatory requirements. The market reflects ongoing attention to nutritional formulations and compliance with changing feed regulations affecting hog producers.
Keep your protocols sharp — disease doesn’t take a day off.