BioSec Bob here on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 — let’s get straight to it.
We’re starting this morning with serious news out of the hog sector. Pseudorabies has been confirmed in a U.S. swine herd, and agronews.com is reporting producers need to understand what’s at stake. This is a viral disease that causes fever, neurological signs, and reproductive failure in pigs, and it hasn’t been seen in domestic herds here for years. The virus spreads through direct contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated feed and water. Infected pigs show signs within three to ten days — fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and in younger animals, seizures and death. Breeding stock can abort litters or produce stillborn piglets. Producers who suspect pseudorabies need to contact their veterinarian and state animal health officials immediately.
Over on the disease research side, National Hog Farmer is digging into whether sapovirus might be playing a bigger role in post-weaning diarrhea than previously thought. Sapovirus is a calicivirus that’s been detected in pig herds across multiple regions, and researchers are now looking at whether it’s a primary cause of PWD or a contributing factor that works alongside other pathogens. The virus affects the small intestine and can cause significant production losses if it hits at the wrong time in the growth cycle. Producers managing multiple viral and bacterial challenges in their nurseries should have their veterinarians consider sapovirus as part of the diagnostic workup.
On the trade side, National Hog Farmer reports that both Canada and Mexico have now clarified their import restrictions following the pseudorabies confirmation. Both countries have outlined specific testing and certification requirements for U.S. pork products to enter their markets. The restrictions are designed to prevent the virus from crossing borders while maintaining trade flow where biosecurity protocols can be verified. Pork exporters shipping to these markets will need to work with their veterinary certifiers to meet the new documentation standards.
Moving to swine disease research, Texas Tech University is stepping up to lead a multi-state study on Streptococcus suis, according to National Hog Farmer. The study will examine the prevalence, genetics, and transmission of S. suis across different production systems and regions. S. suis causes meningitis, arthritis, and sudden death in growing pigs, and better understanding how it spreads and which strains are circulating will help producers and their veterinarians develop more targeted control strategies.
Shifting to poultry, the USDA has tightened the rules around “Product of USA” labeling for meat and poultry, Yahoo is reporting. The new regulations require that meat and poultry products labeled as Product of USA must meet stricter origin and processing standards to prevent misleading claims. Poultry producers and processors will need to review their labeling practices to ensure compliance with the updated guidelines.
Stay alert on your herd health protocols this week.