Zoonotic Watch — September 1, 2026

 Zoonotic Watch — September 1, 2026: H5N1 dairy herds in Texas and Utah, West Nile early surge, Northwest Naturals recall

September 1, 2026 — Today's zoonotic + food safety roundup.

TODAY'S TRACKER

Date	Type	Pathogen	Location	Count	Source
2026-08-28	Recall	Salmonella / Listeria	Nationwide — Northwest Naturals Chicken Recipe raw pet food, 72 cases	1,956 lbs	FDA Recall Notice
2026-08-27	Outbreak	Cyclospora	20 states — Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce	17,180 cases, 2 deaths	FDA Investigation
2026-08-04	Zoonotic	West Nile Virus	Arizona 61, Texas 12 — Total 143 as of Aug 4	143 cases, 38 neuroinvasive	CDC ArboNET Current Year
2026-08-30	Zoonotic	H5N1 Avian Influenza	Dairy cows — TX (2 new), UT (1 new), 85 herds YTD 2026	20 human cases 2026	USDA APHIS Livestock

Full archive: 2026 Tracker

ZOONOTIC UPDATES

H5N1 in Dairy Cows: USDA APHIS lists 3 new infected dairy herds in the last 30 days — 2 in Texas, 1 in Utah. That brings 2026 to 85 herds, down from 171 same period 2025. CDC reports 20 human H5N1 infections in 2026, 9 with dairy cow exposure. USDA will begin testing 800 beef samples from culled dairy cows in mid-September to check for H5N1 in beef tissue. APHIS Detections | FDA Dairy Investigation

West Nile Virus: Earliest season start since 2004 per CDC. As of Aug 4, 143 cases reported, with 38 neuroinvasive disease cases by June 30 (vs 9 same time last year). Arizona leading at 61 cases. Peak season is August-September. CDC Current Year Data

FOOD RECALLS & OUTBREAKS

Cyclospora — Iceberg Lettuce: FDA and CDC investigation into Taylor Farms de Mexico iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell and other restaurants. 17,180 illnesses, 2 deaths, 20 states. Taco Bell traceback accounts for 10,930. Largest cyclospora outbreak recorded. FDA Outbreak Page

Recall Closed — Requeson/Soft Ricotta: Listeria outbreak linked to soft ricotta ended Aug 26. No new cases. CDC Listeria Outbreaks

FAQ

Q: Is milk safe with H5N1 in dairy cows? A: Yes, commercial pasteurized milk is safe. FDA and USDA testing shows pasteurization inactivates H5N1. Avoid raw milk and raw milk cheese from affected herds. FDA Milk Guidance

Q: What should I do about the iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak? A: This was July 2026 product from Taylor Farms de Mexico supplied to restaurants, not retail bags. If you ate at affected chains in July and have prolonged watery diarrhea, see your provider and mention cyclospora. No ongoing recall for retail lettuce as of Aug 27 per FDA.

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Sources linked above. Last updated: September 1, 2026 6 AM MT.

More: About | H5N1 Dairy Explainer | West Nile 2026