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Pacific Northwest Partners Expand Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Pilot in Central Washington

Pacific Northwest Partners Expand Prescribed Fire and Smoke Management Pilot in Central Washington

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Fish & Wildlife, are expanding a collaborative effort in Central Washington. This initiative aims to increase the use of prescribed fire, reduce wildfire risk, and enhance public health protections from smoke. Building on a Pacific Northwest collaboration launched in 2024, this expansion focuses on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and nearby state-managed lands and communities. Agency partners are coordinating planning, outreach, air-quality monitoring, and public health protections through an incident command structure for multi-jurisdictional prescribed burns scheduled for fall 2026 and spring 2027. The pilot, which began in Kittitas and Chelan counties, will now extend into western Okanogan County and Yakima County.

CDC Releases 2026 Antimicrobial Threats Report, Citing Urgent Public Health Threat

CDC Releases 2026 Antimicrobial Threats Report, Citing Urgent Public Health Threat

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released its 2026 Antimicrobial Threats Report, categorizing 19 bacterial and fungal pathogens by their threat level to health in the United States. The report identifies antimicrobial resistance as an "urgent public health threat" that endangers lives and depletes resources across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and food production. The CDC determines threat levels—Urgent, Serious, Concerning, and Watch List—based on several factors. These factors include the clinical and economic impact of the pathogen, the current number and projected change in new infections in the U.S., transmissibility, and the availability of preventive measures and effective treatments. This comprehensive report aims to provide a clear picture of the landscape of antimicrobial resistance and guide public health efforts.

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Study Links Wild Animal Imports to Increased Zoonotic Outbreak Risk

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Study Links Wild Animal Imports to Increased Zoonotic Outbreak Risk

Scientists from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University have published a study in the journal *One Health* indicating a significant correlation between the volume of wild animal imports and a higher likelihood of zoonotic infectious disease emergence. The research, which analyzed data from 214 countries over 39 years, found that a one-unit increase in wild animal import volume was associated with an approximately 23% increase in the odds of a new zoonotic disease appearing. Conversely, the study found no statistically significant link between wild animal exports and the emergence of such infections. The researchers suggest that imported animals may introduce novel pathogens to which local populations have no prior immunity. Further analysis of extreme cases revealed that years with exceptionally high volumes of wild animal imports coincided 40% more often with a large number of zoonotic outbreaks. The study also identified other contributing factors to emerging infections, including mammal species diversity, p...

Oregon Dairy Cattle Confirm First Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detection

Oregon Dairy Cattle Confirm First Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detection

Milk from a Morrow County dairy in Oregon has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), marking the first detection of the virus in Oregon dairy cattle. The preliminary detection was identified through Oregon’s routine statewide milk surveillance program, with initial results reported by the Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (OVDL) on November 6, 2026. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) promptly launched an on-farm investigation and submitted additional samples to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for confirmation, which was received on November 10, 2026. The affected dairy has been placed under quarantine, and enhanced biosecurity measures are now in effect. This quarantine restricts animal movement and implements additional disease control measures. No other affected dairies have been identified at this time, and pasteurized milk and dairy products are deemed safe for consumption, as pasteurization effective...

US faces loss of measles-free status as experts meet for review

US faces loss of measles-free status as experts meet for review

By Jennifer Rigby and Julie Steenhuysen LONDON/CHICAGO, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Global health experts will determine in the coming days whether the United States has lost its official measles-free status, a public health achievement it has held since 2000 now in jeopardy after outbreaks across the

Music Events Showcase Grunge Tributes and Diverse Genres in Washington State

Music Events Showcase Grunge Tributes and Diverse Genres in Washington State

Music Events Showcase Grunge Tributes and Diverse Genres in Washington State

What FBS College Football Teams Do Not Have Ten Power Conference Opponents Lined Up for 2027?

What FBS College Football Teams Do Not Have Ten Power Conference Opponents Lined Up for 2027?

Some programs like Indiana will be scrambling to reconfigure their schedule.

Exclusive-CDC chief says agency will not change measles response if US loses elimination status

Exclusive-CDC chief says agency will not change measles response if US loses elimination status

By Yasmeen Abutaleb WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will not fundamentally change its response to measles outbreaks even if the US loses its measles elimination status this month, CDC Director Dr Erica Schwartz told Reuters on Tuesday.

H5N1 Avian Influenza Spreads from Illinois Backyard Poultry to Mammals, Study Confirms

H5N1 Avian Influenza Spreads from Illinois Backyard Poultry to Mammals, Study Confirms

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus in an Illinois backyard poultry flock has been confirmed to have spread to a domestic cat and wild rats on the same property. This finding, detailed in a case study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases by researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, indicates the virus's ability to extend beyond avian species. The outbreak began in March 2025, leading to the loss of 100 out of 105 backyard birds. Subsequent testing of a deceased cat and wild rat from the farm confirmed H5N1 infection in both mammals. Dr. Leyi Wang, virology section head at the University of Illinois laboratory, led the team that examined the specimens. Genomic sequencing revealed nearly identical viral genomes across the chicken, cat, and rat samples, suggesting a shared infection source and a specific mutation associated with adaptation to...

X-Energy Partners with Fluor to Construct 320 MW Nuclear Power Plant in Washington State

X-Energy Partners with Fluor to Construct 320 MW Nuclear Power Plant in Washington State

U.S.-based X-Energy, a manufacturer of gas-cooled small modular reactors (SMRs), has partnered with Fluor, an engineering and project management company, to construct its second nuclear power plant. This 320 MWe facility is planned for Richland, Washington State, and will feature four of X-Energy’s Xe-100 SMRs. Each Xe-100 SMR is designed to generate 80 MW of electricity and incorporates passive safety systems to prevent overheating. The project, known as the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility, is a joint initiative with Amazon and is located near the Columbia Generating Station. X-Energy aims to deploy 5 GW of nuclear capacity by 2039, with this Washington State plant being a key step towards that goal. The company's first power plant in South Texas is nearing the construction permit stage, demonstrating progress in regulatory approvals for SMR technology.

Wastewater Surveillance Proposed as Key Tool for Detecting Deadly Fungal Infections Amid Growing Global Threat

Wastewater Surveillance Proposed as Key Tool for Detecting Deadly Fungal Infections Amid Growing Global Threat

Researchers are advocating for the use of wastewater surveillance as a crucial method for detecting deadly fungal infections, a threat that is escalating due to a warming climate, an increase in immunocompromised individuals, and a limited number of effective antifungal drugs. Fungi like Candida auris, first identified in Japan in 2009, have spread globally, exhibiting resistance to multiple drugs and causing difficult-to-control hospital outbreaks. Despite fungal infections causing approximately 2.5 million deaths worldwide annually—surpassing tuberculosis and malaria combined—they receive little attention, often viewed as complications of existing illnesses rather than public health threats. Current hospital-based monitoring systems frequently miss the true spread of these pathogens due to biological factors, such as many people carrying fungi asymptomatically, and technical limitations in testing. Wastewater monitoring offers a community-wide snapshot, with studies in southern Nevada and Florida demonst...

Wisconsin Urges Poultry and Dairy Producers to Enhance Biosecurity Amid HPAI Bird Migration

Wisconsin Urges Poultry and Dairy Producers to Enhance Biosecurity Amid HPAI Bird Migration

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is urging poultry and livestock producers to implement heightened biosecurity measures as wild bird migration continues across the state. This comes after eight Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) detections in Wisconsin poultry this year, with four occurring since September, and one confirmed detection in a Wisconsin dairy herd. Migrating wild birds are known carriers of the virus, capable of spreading it to domestic animals through contact with farm animals, feed, water sources, or equipment. State and federal agencies, including DATCP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are emphasizing the importance of reviewing and strengthening biosecurity practices for all types of producers.