biosecurity - Global Food Observatory (Page 2)

Australia abandons eradication of H5 bird flu as the virus establishes across five states and the export claim now rests on farm biosecurity, not on freedom

The Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases has confirmed that eradicating H5 in Australian wildlife is not technically feasible, converting a containment response into a permanent management regime for the last major poultry exporter to hold H5 free status.

2 Aug 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

USDA reopens the Mexican cattle border with screwworm still active in Texas as beef price pressure overrides the standstill

A suspension in place since May 2025 will unwind in phases from 24 August, an explicit decision to accept residual biosecurity risk in exchange for supply relief against record domestic beef prices.

26 Jul 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

H5N1 reaches Australia's mainland as the last free continent falls and poultry trade status goes on the clock

The panzootic strain of avian influenza has established in Australian wildlife for the first time, ending the country's status as the world's last H5 free continent even as poultry and trade remain, for now, untouched.

20 Jul 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

Screwworm reaches 16 US animal cases as CDC activates an emergency response and the eradication timeline slips

New World screwworm has moved from a single Texas detection to sixteen domestically acquired US cases and a formal CDC emergency activation, while the regional caseload has passed 185,000 animals.

12 Jul 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

Sri Lanka designates entire country ASF-susceptible as pig sector losses pass 67,000 head

Sri Lanka's government has classified all nine provinces as African swine fever risk zones as the disease's toll climbs past 67,000 pigs and wild boar and 1,594 affected farms.

5 Jul 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

Lumpy Skin Disease reaches Western Europe for the first time

Lumpy Skin Disease has been confirmed in Western Europe for the first time, with outbreaks reported in northern Italy. The virus has tracked steadily westward from the Balkans since 2015 and the EU vaccine bank has insufficient SAT1-compatible doses to cover exposed cattle populations.

28 Jun 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

FMD serotype SAT1 reaches EU territory — vaccine mismatch leaves livestock unprotected

FMD serotype SAT1 — historically confined to Sub-Saharan Africa — has established in EU territory for the first time via Cyprus and Greece. Standard European O/A/Asia-1 vaccines provide no cross-protection against SAT1.

21 Jun 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

New World screwworm spreads to New Mexico — six cases in ten days as sterile-fly containment races to keep up

The flesh-eating parasite has crossed into a second US state, with six confirmed cases across Texas and New Mexico in ten days — spreading faster than the sterile-fly supply chain can respond. USDA's June WASDE incorporated NWS into its livestock outlook for the first time.

14 Jun 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

New World screwworm crosses into Texas — first US detection in decades

A pest the US eradicated generations ago has been confirmed on US soil in Zavala County, Texas, days after detection near the border. USDA APHIS confirmed the case on 3 June 2026, and specialists warn it may already be more than one case.

7 Jun 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

China confirms first SAT-1 FMD outbreak in cattle across Gansu and Xinjiang

Exotic serotype enters world's largest beef import market with no domestic vaccine cross-protection. 6,229 cattle confirmed across two northwestern provinces. Mortality in young cattle exceeds 50%.

17 May 2026 Read signal →

Biosecurity

Spain ASF reaches 232 wild boar cases with zero domestic herds infected — but the trade damage is already priced in across Europe

By the end of March 2026, 232 wild boar had tested positive for African Swine Fever in the Catalonia region surrounding Barcelona, with approximately 24,000 animals culled year-to-date under the regional reduction programme (Generalitat de Catalunya,

19 Apr 2026 Read signal →

signals.

Australia abandons eradication of H5 bird flu as the virus establishes across five states and the export claim now rests on farm biosecurity, not on freedom

USDA reopens the Mexican cattle border with screwworm still active in Texas as beef price pressure overrides the standstill

H5N1 reaches Australia's mainland as the last free continent falls and poultry trade status goes on the clock

Screwworm reaches 16 US animal cases as CDC activates an emergency response and the eradication timeline slips

Sri Lanka designates entire country ASF-susceptible as pig sector losses pass 67,000 head

Lumpy Skin Disease reaches Western Europe for the first time

FMD serotype SAT1 reaches EU territory — vaccine mismatch leaves livestock unprotected

New World screwworm spreads to New Mexico — six cases in ten days as sterile-fly containment races to keep up

New World screwworm crosses into Texas — first US detection in decades

China confirms first SAT-1 FMD outbreak in cattle across Gansu and Xinjiang

Spain ASF reaches 232 wild boar cases with zero domestic herds infected — but the trade damage is already priced in across Europe