The U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories has confirmed a new case of NWS in a calf in La Salle County, Texas. The USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) have expanded surveillance and response measures in the area.New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that causes severe, potentially fatal infestations by feeding on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. Quick detection, treatment, and reporting are vital to safeguarding livestock, wildlife, and pets.USDA and TAHC are conducting a coordinated response that includes:Joint epidemiological investigations and case tracingAdditional surveillance, testing, and trapping in the affected areasReleasing sterile insectsand adjusting these operations as needed for the most effective coverageConducting outreach to animal ownersOngoing coordination with local officials, veterinarians, ranchers, and community partnersGuidance for Animal Owners and VeterinariansThe most important thing animal owners can do is to know what to look for and how to report suspected cases of NWS. The USDA urges everyone in the area to check animals for:Draining or enlarging woundsMaggots or egg massesSigns of discomfortLesions in body openings (nose, ears, genitalia, umbilical area)Anyone who suspects a screwworm infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian, state animal health official, orthe USDA. Early reporting is essential to ensure animals receive prompt treatment so they fully recover. Though rare in people, anyone who notices a suspicious lesion should seek immediate medical care.Additional updates and resources are available atScrewworm.gov. Editors note: Current screwworm case counts can be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/current-status/us-confirmed-cases-new-world

Following the recent detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in Texas, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is empowering one of the most important tools in preventing, identifying, treating and containing this parasite: the veterinarian.Frontline practitioners across the country are already actively engaged through monitoring and diagnosing potential cases, treating susceptible animals, reporting to state and federal authorities, and educating their clients. Additionally, the AVMA has mobilized and is building on a centralized hub of clinical resources to support practitioners across the profession at avma.org/NWS.Veterinarians are the trusted experts on the ground who possess the medical expertise required to limit animal suffering and prevent further spread of this parasite, said Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, Dipl. ACVR, president of the AVMA. The AVMA is committed to equipping our members with the up-to-date resources and guidance they need to remain proactively vigilant, protect their clients animals, and effectively combat NWS.The AVMA is working alongside federal, state, and industry partners to support a coordinated response.Veterinarians: The Key to Early NWS Detection and CareBecause NWS larvae feed aggressively on the living tissue of warm-blooded animalscausing potentially fatal tissue damage and infectionearly recognition and rapid veterinary intervention are essential. Veterinarians are working with their clients and others to protect susceptible animals, including livestock, horses, companion animals, and wildlife, with a focus on several critical areas:Identifying High-Risk Animals Closely monitoring animals most vulnerable to NWS, including those that have recently given birth, are newly born, have open wounds, or have undergone recent surgical or management procedures such as dehorning or branding.Evaluation of Suspected Cases Actively evaluating animals presenting with wounds, draining lesions, foul odors, visible larvae, or unexplained tissue damage, especially animals located in or recently moved from affected or high-risk regions.Sample Collection and Reporting Following established protocols for collecting samples and reporting through their state animal health official and USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge.Guiding Treatment Decisions Ensuring medical interventions follow official guidance; are grounded in sound veterinary practice, proper selection and use of veterinary products, and strict observance of withdrawal times where appropriate; and that care is delivered within a properly established veterinarian-client-patient relationship.A Universe of RolesBeyond those providing direct clinical care, many other veterinarians are playing essential roles in the coordinated response to this animal health threat. They include state and federal animal health officials addressing policy and emergency management, extension veterinarians, veterinary laboratory diagnosticians, disease surveillance and epidemiologic specialists, researchers, veterinary professional services representatives who support veterinarians on the ground with access and information regarding products for prevention and treatment, public health veterinarians, and more.

On June 1, a 4-year-old Quarter Horse gelding in Genesee County, Michigan, tested positive for strangles. The horse developed clinical signs on May 30, including fever, nasal discharge, and swollen lymph nodes. He is currently quarantined.EDCC Health Watch is an Equine Network marketing program that utilizes information from the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) to create and disseminate verified equine disease reports. TheEDCCis an independent nonprofit organization that is supported by industry donations in order to provide open access to infectious disease information.About StranglesStranglesin horses is an infection caused byStreptococcus equisubspeciesequiand spread through direct contact with other equids or contaminated surfaces. Horses that arent showing clinical signs can harbor and spread the bacteria, and recovered horses remain contagious for at least six weeks, with the potential to cause outbreaks long-term.Infected horses can exhibit a variety of clinical signs:FeverSwollen and/or abscessed lymph nodesNasal dischargeCoughing or wheezingMuscle swellingDifficulty swallowingVeterinarians diagnose horses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with either a nasal swab, wash, or an abscess sample, and they treat most cases based on clinical signs, implementing antibiotics for severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics can prevent an infected horse from developing immunity. Most horses make a full recovery in three to four weeks.A vaccine is available but not always effective. Biosecurity measures of quarantining new horses at a facility and maintaining high standards of hygiene and disinfecting surfaces can helplower the risk of outbreakorcontain one when it occurs.

Sponsoredcontent in collaboration with The Insurance EmporiumAs horse owners, we all want to keep our horses healthy, happy and safeand while we all tend to think that the worst wont happen, factoring in the unexpected is a huge part of owning any animal, especially one thats asbig and unpredictable asahorse.What iftheydevelop a serious health condition, or need surgery? What iftheydamagesomeone elses property, orarestolen?Our animals dont have access to the kind of health care that we do, and vets fees can really add up and while we all know that horse insurance can help protect against unexpected costs, were all very aware of the rising cost of living at the moment, so we want to be sure that were getting the right policy, and only paying for the things we need. To help us understand a bit better, we talked to our friends at The Insurance Emporium; theyve been providing specialist horse insurance for years and have put together this short guide to answer some of the most common questions when it comes to choosing horse insurance. Why should I consider horse insurance? Whetheryourean owner, a breeder, atraineror a rider,youllknow how fulfilling it is to be around horses, butyoullalso know thattheyrenot the cheapest animal to look after.After theinitialcost of buying them, youhave tothink about livery costs, food,forageand bedding, as well as regular visits to the vet, farrier and dentist.This is before you even factor in them being ill, or involved in an accident, or even stolen; it would be good to be able to base theirtreatment on what they need.What does horse insurance cover? At The Insurance Emporium, horse insurancecomes with one standard benefit Death, Theft or Straying,this is for if the horse dies or is put to sleeporis not found within90days of straying or being stolen from the stabling address. You can then tweak your policy to suit you and your horse with a choice of optional benefits, which include:Vets fees The cost of treatment and/or complementary treatment of each injury,illnessor condition.Complimentarytherapy This must be carried out by your vet or a qualified practitioner.Referralvettransportation and livery The cost of transportation to and from a livery whilst the horseremainsat the referral vets.Disposal costs The cost of removal and disposal of the horses body if the horse dies or is put to sleep by a vet.Saddlery and tack Where your saddlery and tack are stolen or accidentally damaged whilst you are taking part in or preparing for an activity specified in your type of use.Loss of use (permanentincapacity) An illness, injury or condition that prevents your horse carrying out the functions for which it was insured.Public liability(standard) Your legal liability to others for compensation and costs arising out of the ownership or use of your horse.Personal accident Death, permanent disablement, loss of hearing, sight, or limbsas a result ofan injury sustained whilst riding, leading, handling or caring for the horse.Dental treatment Dental treatment following an accidental bodily injury to your mouth and/ or teeth whilst riding your horse.What do I need to consider when taking out horse insurance? Their age.Their health.Their breed.Theirintended use.Exclusions certain treatments and pre-existing conditions may not be coveredandyoullneed to inform your insurance company as soon as possible if there are any changes to your circumstances that could affect your policy.What other questions should I ask? Does horse insurance cover injuries from rider accidents?Yes, with the personal accident optional benefit youre covered if you sustain an accidentalbodilyinjury as a result of riding, handling,caring for, or interacting withyour horse and that injury results inyourdeath, loss of hearing, sight or limbs orrenders youtotallypermanentlydisabledfor aconsecutive period of 365 days.DoI need to insure my horse trailer?Yourenot legally obliged to havehorse trailer insurancebut towing a trailer does come with risks so taking out covermight be worth considering,particularly if you attend horse shows/events, buy or sell horses, ownstablesor train horses. You can also getinsurance for if you hire a horse trailer.Can I get horse insurance for pre-existing conditions?No, you wont be covered for pre-existing conditions, meaning injuries or illnesses that existed before your policy started. Are racehorses/competition horses insured by standard horse insurance?We do not insure racehorses but our horse policy allows you to compete just make sure you select the appropriate type of equestrian activities when going through the quotation. What if I have an older horse?Ourveteran horse insurancecovers horses 20 years and over there is no upper age limit.Do horses need insurance on the road?While theres no legal requirement to have insurance when riding on the road, most responsible riders have insurance that includes public liability. Do horse riders need insurance?If youdontown a horse, but ride one, ahorse rider onlypolicy will provide cover for you, and some emergency cover for the horse, for example, emergency vet fees.Whatsthe maximum value that you can insure a horse?This figure may differ between insurance companies. A horse can be insured with us for up to 15,000. What if my horse is ridden by someone else?Your horse or veteran horse policy will usually cover anyone, aged five to 75, who is riding, leading, handling or caring for your horse with your permission. What does excess mean?An excess is the part you pay towards a claim.With our horse insurance policies,theresno excess to pay on our standard benefit, but there are three optional benefits where you need to pay an excess:vets fees, saddlery and tack and public liability(standard)so check your policy schedule.What does loss of use mean?There are two types of loss of use. Complete: this iswhere your horse cannot undertake any functions for which it was vetted and insured, and it is put to sleep. Partial: where your horse cannot undertake any functions for which it was vetted and insured but can undertake other equestrian activities, or you choose to breed or retire them.Are there any conditions for keeping my saddlery and tack safe?Yes, when not in use you need to adhere tosecurity requirements,such as these, otherwise your insurance may be invalid, and your claim may be rejected.Can I insure more than one horse?Yes, you can insure more than one horse, and you may even be eligible for a multi-horse discount. At The Insurance Emporium, if you insure more than one horse, you will be eligible for an extra 10% discount on each of your horse insurance policies. The multi-horse discount is either applied at the start of any new horse policies or at renewal of existing horse policies. Havinghorse insurancein placecouldmean that if you are faced with an unexpected bill for an injury, illness, accident etc then you know you have theright cover for you, yourhorseand your budget.VisitThe Insurance Emporiumwebsite, or give them a calland get a free, no-strings quote today.Lifestyle Policy Limited is an appointed representative of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited. The Insurance Emporium is a trading name of The Equine and Livestock Insurance Company Limited (registered in England and Wales no: 294940) which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority no:202748. All content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information on this site or found by following any link on this site. We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability of this information. We will not be liable for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the display or use of this information. This policy is subject to change at any time. We offer a variety of cover levels, so please check the policy cover suits your needs before purchasing. For your protection, please ensure you read the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and policy wording, for information on policy exclusions and limitations. Images courtesy of Shutterstock Related content Essential guide to horse health insuranceColic surgery costs exceed insurance payouts, find vetsWhat does Death of Horse insurance actually cover? *Sponsored*Expert guide to public liability cover *Sponsored*The post Tails of the unexpected: top tips for choosing the most appropriate insurance policy for you and your horse *Sponsored* appeared first on Your Horse.

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The Breeding Grant 2026 kicked off in April, with 5 shows receiving funding under the initiative in this month. In total, 71 shows and events are to receive funding from the 600,000 budget in 2026. The Breeding Grant is funded under National Breeding Services, by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and delivered by Horse Sport Ireland. The April shows took place across the country, including: Wexford Equestrian Stepping Stones Final, 1st AprilWRESS Starter Stakes Final Final, 6th AprilIDHBA Kildare Branch, 6th AprilLisgarvan Horse Trials, 12th AprilWexford Summer Show, 25th AprilTo read a full breakdown of results, breeding and presentations CLICK HERE.May results will follow this week. The post Breeding Grant 2026: April Round-Up appeared first on .