BioSec Bob here on Sunday, September 27, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
African swine fever has been confirmed in Agutaya, Palawan in the Philippines, according to Inquirer.net. The discovery marks another documented case of ASF in commercial swine operations in Southeast Asia. The confirmation comes as producers across the region remain on high alert for the virus, which has continued to spread through pig populations with significant economic consequences wherever it takes hold.
Over in Laos, authorities are ramping up containment efforts against African swine fever, The Star is reporting. The country has stepped up measures to slow the virus’s spread through its swine herds, though details on specific protocols weren’t disclosed. The acceleration reflects growing concern among regional officials about ASF’s trajectory across Southeast Asia.
Shifting to the poultry side, the CDC has closed out the 2026 backyard poultry Salmonella outbreak investigations, Food Poison Journal reports. The outbreaks sickened 1,253 people across 46 states, sent 256 to the hospital, and resulted in two deaths. Eight hatcheries were connected to the contaminated strains involved, though the CDC did not publicly identify any of them by name or location.
On the processing front, Brownfield Ag News is reporting that poultry production increased during the most recent reporting period, driven by larger processing volumes. The uptick reflects sustained demand and continued throughput gains in the sector.
Research out of Phys.org examined antimicrobial resistance genes in chickens and found that bird age, not feed additives, was the primary driver of those genetic patterns. The study looked at how different factors influence the development and spread of resistance markers in poultry flocks, shifting focus away from supplement formulations as a primary concern.
Finally, Food Safety Magazine is highlighting research that identifies specific high-pressure processing parameters effective at reducing pathogens in raw chicken. The study pinpointed optimal pressure settings and treatment times for pathogen control, adding to the toolkit available for processors looking to enhance safety without thermal processing.
Keep your sourcing close and your biosecurity tighter this week.