Lessons from an equine outbreak and an opportunity for poultry producers

Minnesota Board of Animal Health sent this bulletin at 02/17/2026 11:08 AM CST

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Animal Bytes

February 2026

New World Screwworm

New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae (maggots) burrow into the host’s living tissue. This differs from other species of fly whose maggots feed on dead tissue.

NWS larvae are transmitted when a female fly lays eggs on an open wound. Some common wound examples include insect bites, animal husbandry wounds, wire cuts, and other injuries. The NWS flies also target the navel of newborn animals. NWS infested wounds often attract other female screwworms and many infestations on a single wound are possible.

The ongoing movement of people, pets, and livestock in today's fast world poses a real risk for how quickly an incursion could occur, even in Minnesota. While there are currently no known cases in the United States, there is a significant amount of work being done to keep the fly from spreading.

Looking for more Minnesota specific NWS resources? We have you covered with the following:

Keep reading...

Takeaways from national Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy outbreak

In November, a series of national rodeo events led to an outbreak of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM). The disease, caused by the EHV‑1 virus, usually produces mild respiratory illness, but can occasionally trigger serious neurologic disease. EHV‑1 spreads easily through direct contact, droplets, and shared equipment, and horses can shed the virus before showing symptoms. Unfortunately, travel and competition can unintentionally move infection long distances before anyone realizes a problem is unfolding.

Once alerted of the cases, the Board of Animal Health quickly reviewed exposure records and identified and quarantined 26 Minnesota horses that had attended the affected events. Thankfully, none of these horses developed signs of EHM. When horse owners act quickly by separating exposed horses, checking temperatures twice daily, and contacting a veterinarian at the first sign of fever, they help monitor and contain the threat of EHM in their barns.

This incident is a reminder about strong biosecurity. Keeping separate equipment for each horse, avoiding nose‑to‑nose contact at events, skipping shared water sources, and quarantining new or returning horses for at least 21 days all help limit disease spread. The November outbreak may be behind us, but the lessons show consistent biosecurity, good record‑keeping, and quick action remain the best tools Minnesota horse owners have to protect their horses.

On-farm biosecurity assessments available to poultry farms

All commercial poultry operations not affected by HPAI are able to request an APHIS Wildlife Services on-farm assessment to identify how wildlife could spread HPAI to your flocks. Local Minnesota staff will visit your operation and recommend facility repairs and options for managing wildlife to protect your poultry from HPAI.

Please note, a wildlife biosecurity assessment is not a one-time service, it's a series of regular coordination with Wildlife Services staff to ensure producers are mounting their best defense against disease. A typical visit includes identifying issues and helping producers build upon existing biosecurity and following up on risk mitigation in future meetings.

Interested commercial producers should email poultry.biosecurity@usda.gov or call 844-820-2234 to request a wildlife biosecurity assessment.

Review additional information and check out what information you'll need to provide to request an assessment on the APHIS website.

Board meeting recording available

The February 2026 Board meeting recording is posted to our website. View the recording and other Board member and meeting details online.