BioSec Bob here on Thursday, September 17, 2026—let’s get straight to it.
Starting with poultry: avian flu is back in Wisconsin, and this time it’s spreading to species we haven’t seen hit before. According to WPR, the virus has been detected in new wildlife species across the state, expanding the geographic footprint of the outbreak. That’s different from what producers dealt with earlier this year—this isn’t just commercial operations on alert anymore. The wild bird population is acting as a reservoir, and with fall migration patterns ramping up, that’s a direct risk vector for any flock within range.
Turning to swine disease prep work happening outside our borders, the Caribbean is tightening its defenses against African Swine Fever. Trinidad Guardian reports that regional countries are strengthening surveillance systems and border protocols specifically to block ASF entry. No cases have been confirmed in the Caribbean yet, but producers there are watching what’s happening in neighboring regions and building their response infrastructure now rather than waiting for the first diagnosis to hit.
On the sow productivity side, foodagribusiness.world has been looking at what modern genetics and management systems actually require to keep sows performing longer. Today’s high-output genetics demand precise nutrition, robust gilt development programs, and closer attention to lameness prevention—it’s not the same playbook from a decade ago. Longevity gains aren’t just about keeping sows in the herd; they’re tied directly to better feed conversion and consistent farrowing performance. The economics shift when you’re getting more productive cycles out of your breeding stock.
Moving to Asia’s swine situation, South Korea has confirmed a second case of African Swine Fever, according to Arab News. The discovery extends the outbreak beyond the initial detection and signals the virus is establishing itself in the region. That’s significant because South Korea is a major pork producer, and ongoing ASF activity there will shape global pork supply dynamics for months ahead.
On the research front, Penn Vet’s Swine Center marked 25 years of continuous work this week. The Pig Site reports the center has been running controlled studies and diagnostic work that’s fed directly into industry biosecurity protocols and disease management over two and a half decades. That’s the kind of institutional research infrastructure producers sometimes take for granted—it doesn’t make headlines until you need it.
And finally, the Wildlife Conservation Society is raising an alarm about African Swine Fever’s impact on Asia’s wild pig populations. WCS Newsroom reports that endemic species face extinction risk from uncontrolled ASF spread through wildlife reservoirs. Once the virus gets into wild populations, it becomes nearly impossible to eradicate, which creates a permanent disease pressure on any commercial operation in range.
Lot of ASF movement to track this week—stay vigilant on your borders.