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 New World Screwworm: Veterinary Considerations for Dogs and Cats that Travel Internationally

Please review a new resource for veterinarians, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/
default/files/nws-vet-guidance-cats-dogs.pdf, which outlines important companion pet (e.g., dogs and cats) health considerations and U.S. entry requirements for animals who travel to a NWS-affected country. This is especially pertinent to Vermont veterinarians, pet owners, and those who work with companion animals as the most likely route of introduction of New World Screwworm to VT would be through importation of companion animals. For more resources on NWS, visit www.screwworm.gov.

Know The Health Risks When Raising Backyard Birds

If you have clients considering raising backyard poultry, please guide them to the following Vermont Department of Health resource in which Dr. Natalie Kwik outlines important steps to help keep individuals healthy. In the article, individuals are reminded that children less than 5, individuals with weakened immune systems, and seniors are are more likely to get severe illness from the germs that poultry can carry, including Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli and avian influenza. Additional avian influenza precautions are also noted in the article. Since 2022, there have been five backyard flocks impacted by H5N1 in Vermont

New World screwworm (NWS) Myiasis Information

New World Screwworm is typically a disease of animals, especially livestock, but can also affect wildlife, pets, and people. Mexico and countries in Central America are reporting cases of NWS in both animals and people. Animals and people may be at an increased risk for NWS infestation if they were in areas where the flies are present, particularly in near infested livestock or other infested animals.

Some steps you can take to prevent infestation:

• Watch for signs of NWS in pets and livestock
• Make sure pets traveling internationally are inspected for screwworm
• Protect pets and livestock from other wound-causing parasites such as ticks

If you think you have found a screwworm, report it immediately to your State animal health official. This will allow USDA-APHIS and partner agencies to respond quickly and remove the screwworms before a population becomes established

Resources:

• New World screwworm (NWS) (AVMA)
• New World Screwworm(USDA)

New World Screw Worm Information

Please use this link for the most updated information on New World Screw Worm. It contains information from the USDA's coordinated One Health response to combat NWS and has information specifically for veterinarians, livestock producers, pet owners, researchers, healthcare providers and the general public. 

Veterinarians, please make use of this great fact titled New World Screwworm: Be Aware and Prepare. Please download this sheet made available by USDA APHIS containing information on what to look for, how to report signs of NWS, and information on how to learn more about the disease.

As a reminder, New World Screw Worm is primarily a risk to livestock and pests and the threat to humans and pets in very low, particularly in the Northeast.  

Information from the AVMA Regarding the Department of Education's Proposed Rule Changes for Accreditation:

Please click on the following links for :

AVMA's public comments to the Department of Education

AVMA's Letter to Colleagues Regarding Understanding of the Accreditation Changes

Wedgewood Pharmacy Recall

Compounded Veterinary Medications Affected: Products intended for companion, equine, exotic, zoo, wildlife, and aquatic animals (not food-producing animals) shipped between February 18, 2026 and October 6, 2026 to veterinary practices, pharmacies, and other customers nationwide in the U.S.

A complete list of affected products (including powders, pastes, oral suspensions, injectables, ophthalmic ointments and solutions, ear solutions and suspensions, topical sprays, and gels), lot numbers, and expiration dates are available at www.wedgewood.com/recall-lookup

This recall is due to inconsistencies in the reliability of certain analytical testing data generated by their laboratory, potentially resulting in subpotent and/or superpotent products.

Please examine inventory, quarantine any affected product, and contact Wedgewood’s recall services by phone at 866-562-5931.

If you have dispensed affected product, identify and notify customers of the recall

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA at 1888-FDA-VETS or online at http://www.FDA.gov/reportanimalae

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV) Update from the Vermont Department of Health

Please see this letter sent out July 15  from Vermont State Public Health Veterinarian Natalie Kwit regarding Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). Vermont recently experienced its highest level of EEEV activity on record, and as mosquito activity increases, the Vermont Department of Health is asking for your partnership in preventing illness through vaccination, identifying suspected cases, and submitting specimens for testing. Specific instructions for testing, including sample submission, are detailed in the letter.

National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Position Statement On Rabies Vaccination

Please see the Position Statement released by the NADSPHV Supporting Vaccination Against Rabies for Dogs and Cats. In the position statement it is stated that "NASPHV encourages state and local authorities to establish policies and programs that help to prevent and control rabies, including those that require owners to protect their animals through regular rabies vaccination". It is encouraged to share this position statement with clients, policy makers, constituents, and the public at large.

New Webinar Provides Latest Guidance on New World Screwworm- 1 free CE Credit 

New World screwworm: Detect, prevent, and treat presents the latest information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help promote understanding of New World Screwworm to  help veterinarians detect, prevent, and treat infestations. This resource delivers the latest guidance on NWS offers one Continuing Education (CE) credit for participants. Please Click Here to access this FREE webinar

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT RABIES FROM USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES 

In Vermont, USDA works with the Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, & Markets, to distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) baits targeting the raccoon rabies virus variant (RRVV) and conducts enhanced rabies surveillance (ERS) in northern Vermont to monitor for expansion of raccoon rabies. Close to 10 million ORV baits have been distributed by USDA in Vermont since 1997 to protect people, pets, livestock, and wildlife from this deadly disease. The continued collection and testing of USDA samples is critical to the ongoing success of the ERS effort to eliminate RRVV from Vermont.

Due to the ongoing expansion of rabies into northern Vermont, please report any dead or strange acting raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, or bobcats to the USDA Vermont Rabies Hotline (1-800-4-RABIES; 800-472-2437), especially from the counties of Grand Isle, Franklin, Lamoille, Orleans, and Essex. Vermont veterinarians are a critical partner for rabies surveillance, since wildlife that can carry rabies may be reported during pet exposure evaluations.

For more information on rabies in Vermont, and for guidance on pet exposures to rabies and animal submissions for rabies testing, please visit: https://www.healthvermont.gov/disease-control/zoonotic-diseases/rabies