NEWSROOM

BioSec Bob here on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 — let's get straight to it.

First up: pseudorabies has been confirmed in a U.S. swine herd, and the trade response is already underway. According to Meatingplace, Mexico and Canada have now specified which American pork products they're restricting in response to the outbreak. The specifics matter here — both countries have detailed exactly what cuts and categories face the ban rather than issuing a blanket halt. AgUpdate is reporting the detection itself occurred in a domestic swine operation, though details on the exact location and herd size are still developing. This is the kind of foreign market reaction that moves fast once pseudorabies surfaces, and producers shipping across either border need to stay tuned to exactly which product categories their operations touch.

Over on the poultry side, avian flu's shown up in Indiana. WATTPoultry.com reports the virus has been confirmed in two separate duck flocks in the state. Duck operations tend to have different biosecurity profiles than broiler or layer operations, and the fact that it's turned up in two flocks suggests the virus is circulating in that particular region. Indiana poultry producers — especially those running waterfowl — should be reviewing their surveillance and containment protocols.

Speaking of poultry disease, there's some genuinely positive news from the research end. The National Provisioner is reporting that researchers have developed both live and inactivated vaccine candidates for avian metapneumovirus subtype B, or aMPV-B. Having vaccine candidates in development, even if they're not yet approved for commercial use, gives the industry a potential tool down the road. aMPV-B has been a persistent problem in some flocks, so the fact that researchers are working dual-approach vaccines — live and killed — gives producers options if and when these move through the approval pipeline.

Back to hog health strategy: the National Pork Board has formed a producer-led advisory committee focused on advancing the National Swine Health Strategy, according to American Ag Network. This is an internal industry move meant to sharpen the health priorities and response framework across the sector. When producer groups take the lead on strategy committees like this, it usually means the pork industry is taking a harder look at its own disease prevention and response readiness.

And out of Iowa this morning, Radio 570 WNAX is flagging swine disease threats specific to that state. Iowa's hog density means disease pressure can escalate quickly, and state-level threat assessments help producers understand what's circulating in their immediate region and what prevention work matters most right now.

Keep your biosecurity fundamentals locked in — it's the one tool you control completely.