DC Veterinary Medical Association

06/10/2026

UPDATE 6/10/26 at 11:10 AM ET: USDA/APHIS has modified its list of species restricted from traveling to Mexico amid the New World screwworm response. Pet dogs are no longer included on the restricted list and may travel to Mexico under previously established procedures.

Restrictions remain in place for other affected species, and dogs entering the U.S. from Mexico still require screwworm inspection/certification.

Original post below:
‼️USDA-APHIS has halted the export of pet dogs and several other animal species to Mexico amid confirmed United States New World screwworm detections.

Veterinary teams should continue monitoring for suspicious wounds, educating clients, and reporting suspected cases to the appropriate animal health authorities.

Read what we know so far: https://hubs.li/Q04kCRWW0

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

New World screwworm (NWS) larvae were confirmed in the umbilicus of a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, according to a June 3 announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

05/10/2026

Recent news of a hantavirus outbreak aboard an expedition cruise ship has put a spotlight on the rare but potentially deadly disease and raising concerns. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine's Dr. Marieke Rosenbaum explains what to know—and how to protect yourself.

Learn more: https://now.tufts.edu/2026/05/07/hantavirus-outbreak-raises-questions-heres-how-we-can-protect-ourselves

[📸: Alonso Nichols, Tufts University]

05/10/2026

Trump’s most lethal policy will almost surely be his 71 percent cut in humanitarian aid from 2024 to 2025.

05/07/2026

HPAI updates from AVMA:

Wild bird migration continues to drive highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks across U.S. farms. Experts urge better habitat management for wildlife and enhanced biosecurity measures to protect flocks and herds.

05/06/2026

Hantaviruses are common, but outbreaks are rare

A deadly outbreak aboard a cruise ship has been linked to a rodent-borne hantavirus, which is not a common cause of human infections despite being widely distributed across Earth. Ships carrying rats along with goods probably introduced Old World hantavirus strains to North America, says microbiology and immunology professor Sabra Klein. Those strains may have morphed into a more lethal New World hantavirus carried by deer mice in the US, Klein says. Another strain common to the Andes Mountains is probably at play in the cruise ship outbreak, Klein says.

Since the family of rodent-borne infections were identified in the 1950s, they have turned up all over the world.

05/05/2026

Recognizing time as a major barrier, the Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Association Board and collaborators developed QUIT—a 10-question triage tool to quickly flag concerns about the reliability of treatment studies. As flags accumulate, readers can confidently set studies aside, keeping in mind QUIT is designed to rule out—not rule in—evidence for decision-making.

Open access article: jav.ma/ebvma

05/05/2026

🌿 Not all plants are pet-safe!

Pets love to sniff, chew, and explore, so it’s important to make sure the plants in your home won’t harm them if nibbled. While many are harmless, some can pose serious risks.

Our experts at ASPCA Poison Control have put together a guide to help you spot safe vs. dangerous plants so you can decorate with peace of mind: Read more here: https://bit.ly/3UgncN3

02/22/2026

The use of a standard surgical site infection language in veterinary practice is central to the future reliability of studies, their comparison, and the understanding of clinical risk factors in the development and prevention of surgical site infection.

Open access article: jav.ma/ssi2