Armed Forces Pest Management Board

Shamonda virus, spread among livestock by Culicoides biting midges, has produced its first known human case, in France. The virus first appeared in European farm animals this summer and has since been found in 12 countries plus Jersey. www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-even...

Italy reported 770 confirmed human West Nile virus cases this season as of Oct. 14, 411 of them neuroinvasive. Weekly increases are slowing, but transmission continues. www.epicentro.iss.it/westnile/bol...

USDA APHIS revised its New World screwworm Response Playbook on Oct. 6, clarifying when outbreak zones can be resized for habitat and host factors and adding criteria for releasing Infested Zones. www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-emerg...

Protect our Warfighters! The DOW FY27 Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program is open for pre-application submissions for advanced tech to combat disease vectors like mosquitoes & ticks. Pre-App Deadline: Nov 20, 2026. Details: ebrap.org #DWFP #ProtectOurWarfighters #VectorControlTech

The Entomological Society of America named nine scientists as 2026 Fellows, recognizing achievements in research, teaching, extension, administration, military service, and science policy. entsoc.org/news/press-r...

WRAIR teams ran vector and disease surveillance at BALTOPS 2026 in Latvia. Tick drags mapped camp risk zones, guiding repellent use, uniform wear, and tick checks. www.dvidshub.net/news/567118/...

USDA: the Moore Air Base sterile fly facility in Texas opens spring 2027, seven months early. Production starts at 100 million sterile flies weekly, reaching 300 million by late 2028. thehill.com/policy/healt...

New in J. Econ. Entomol.: a mesh trap mounted 8 cm in front of hive entrances, tested against yellow-legged hornet at 12 apiaries in Catalonia. Target hornets were 91 percent of captures, 5 percent of them founding queens. No pesticides. doi.org/10.1093/jee/...

New in CDC's MMWR: ~40% of adult blacklegged ticks in Biltmore Forest, NC carry Borrelia burgdorferi, on par with Northeast rates. B. miyamotoi and A. phagocytophilum also detected—evidence of southward expansion. www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...

CDC ArboNET (Aug 18): 222 human West Nile virus cases across 32 states, 156 neuroinvasive. Peak transmission is still ahead. Surveillance and personal protection remain key. www.cdc.gov/west-nile-vi...

Virginia has reported its first locally acquired case of dengue fever, underscoring the evolving landscape of vector-borne diseases. This development highlights the critical need for robust public health surveillance and community engagement in mosquito control efforts. wtop.com/virginia/202...

The latest Philippines Disease Vector Ecology Profile covers essential epidemiology, vector bionomics and behavior, and pesticide resistance for medically important arthropods across the archipelago. Built for planners, PMs, and preventive med teams. www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/do...

New World screwworm (C. hominivorax) has re-emerged in the US. The new ESA podcast covers interagency eradication, SIT tech, & fact vs fiction. Highly relevant for AFPMB and force health protection professionals. Listen here: entomologytoday.org/2026/07/15/n...

Vector distribution is shifting. Lyme disease territory is expanding well beyond the Northeast, posing new challenges for force health protection and training readiness. Hear about the shifts driving this vector expansion in this NPR Short Wave episode.

The AFPMB released the updated Disease Vector Ecology Profile (DVEP) for Indonesia! Essential for force health protection, this synopsis details regional vector-borne disease risks, vector behavior, and insecticide resistance. 🦟📋 www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/do...

Researchers are testing Dryinus sinicus, a tiny parasitoid wasp from Asia, as a promising natural enemy for the invasive spotted lanternfly. Could this tiny wasp be the key to long-term, sustainable control? entomologytoday.org/2026/07/02/d...

📢 New: AFPMB TG47 — Aedes Mosquito Vector Control — is out. Pocket reference for ID, surveillance & control of Ae. aegypti & Ae. albopictus (Zika, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever vectors). Updated maps + NSNs. Download 👉 www.acq.osd.mil/eie/afpmb/do...

The World Health Organization has released its new Operational Manual on Larval Source Management (LSM), providing practical guidance for controlling both Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes. iris.who.int/server/api/c...

The FY26 DoW Joint Warfighter Medical Research & Development Award is open! Build on prior DoD-funded work in vector-borne disease, force health protection & medical countermeasures. $8.8M, 4 awards. Closes Nov 16, 2026. #MilitaryMedicine simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/...

The CAES is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Scientist for a 2-year position focused on Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) and nano-acaricides. Interested candidates should submit their cover letter, CV, and three references to Goudarz.Molaei@ct.gov www.postdocjobs.com/posting/7330...

Spotted lanternfly season has begun in Massachusetts a full month earlier than last year, with experts pointing to sustained heat as the driver. This invasive damages grapevines, hops, fruit trees, and hardwoods, and is now confirmed in 19 states plus DC. www.westernmassnews.com/2026/05/20/s...

MaineHealth's Vector-Borne Disease Lab is leading multiple 2026 studies on ticks and the pathogens they carry, including a five-year NIH-funded post-treatment Lyme disease study with Tufts University aimed at identifying biomarkers for persistent symptoms www.mainehealth.org/news/2026/05...

USDA has confirmed two new cases of New World screwworm in Texas (a calf and a dog). As we continue response efforts, including sterile fly releases and strict movement controls, we urge all personnel to remain vigilant. www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-...

Texas confirmed its first human West Nile virus case of 2026 in a Harris County resident diagnosed with neuroinvasive disease, the most serious form. Health officials urge eliminating standing water and using repellent as mosquito season ramps up. www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/...

Tick submissions to SUNY Upstate's testing lab increased 145% between 2024 and 2025, with experts predicting an early and heavy tick season. Over 1 in 3 ticks tested carry disease. A reminder to check yourself and your gear after outdoor activity. www.upstate.edu/news/article...

Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM) is vital for biodiversity, but implementation remains difficult. For military entomologists, this highlights the gap between conservation and mission-critical vector control. entomologytoday.org/2026/05/11/i...

📢 Hiring: Research Entomologist Join the USDA-ARS in Kerrville, TX! Focus on high-priority research for New World screwworm, ticks, and biting flies affecting livestock and wildlife. 📍 Kerrville, TX 💰 $89K - $192K 📅 Closes June 10, 2026 Apply here: www.usajobs.gov/job/86823510...

USDA has applied to register NovoFly, a genetically engineered biopesticide targeting New World screwworm, for use in a wide-area sterile insect program to prevent the pest from spreading northward from Mexico into the U.S. Comments due April 27. www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

The FY26 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program is funding innovative research to prevent, detect, and resolve Lyme disease and other tick-borne conditions for service members, veterans, their families, and the public. cdmrp.health.mil/tbdrp/default

USDA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base, TX, advancing domestic Sterile Insect Technique capacity against New World Screwworm. Target: 100M flies/week by Nov 2027, scaling to 300M/week. www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...

New research in Nature Communications maps how ticks regulate their salivary glands during blood feeding. Scientists identified compounds that can block this process, opening a promising path toward targeted tick control. medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03...

During Justified Accord 2026 in East Africa, US Army microbiologists conducted bio-surveillance on mosquitoes, ticks, and sand flies collected across exercise locations to identify pathogens that could threaten deployed forces. Source: www.dvidshub.net/image/955898...

New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) has spread north through Mexico to within miles of the Texas border. USDA sterile insect technique facilities are being refurbished to restart producing sterile flies by summer 2026 to counter the outbreak. theconversation.com/a-flesh-eati...

CDC updated ArboNET, the national arbovirus surveillance system with 2026 data on dengue, West Nile, and other vector-borne diseases tracked across U.S. states and territories as mosquito season approaches. www.cdc.gov/vector-borne...

Wright-Patterson AFB's pest management team conducts regular inspections and facility treatments to eliminate disease-carrying insects and rodents that could impact the readiness of personnel stationed at the installation. www.dvidshub.net/news/561439/...

New research explores the evolving challenges of entomological warfare, analyzing historical uses and modern advancements like genetic engineering and drone-based delivery. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

Calling all military entomologists! The FY27 Global Emerging Infections Surveillance request for proposals is out. Focus on Force Health Protection, modern tech like AI, and CCMD alignment. 🧬 Proposals are due May 8, 2026, via ProMIS. CAC Login to Apply: carepoint.health.mil/sites/DMSS/P...

Entomologists at the University of Florida report that invasive subterranean termites are expanding their range across the state faster than predicted. This research suggests that by 2050, most of Florida may be battling these species. www.popsci.com/environment/...

The U.S. Army & Defense Health Agency issued a health advisory regarding New World screwworm following a detection in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which shares a border with Texas. www.army.mil/article/2903...

A new study examines how heat and humidity combos affect bed bug mortality. While low humidity increases stress, the most lethal pairing was 40°C at 90% humidity. These findings offer critical data for refining heat treatments in managed facilities. entomologytoday.org/2026/02/09/b...

Nature's tiniest recyclers just leveled up. Black soldier fly larvae can eat polyurethane plastic — and it's their gut microbes doing the heavy lifting. One bacterial strain actually breaks down the stuff. The future of plastic waste might be very, very small. entomologytoday.org/2026/02/10/b...

New Funding Opportunity: The Fiscal Year 2026 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) has been announced with $7M in anticipated funding. Seeking research in Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Diagnosis to protect Service Members. cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2...

The USDA-APHIS has launched the $100M New World Screwworm Grand Challenge! 🪰 Seeking innovations in sterile fly production, traps, lures, and animal treatments to stop the spread of NWS. 📅 Apply by Feb 23, 2026 💰 Up to $5M per award www.grants.gov/search-resul...

The Army recently highlighted Captain Jordan Cornell's work as Entomology Chief for Public Health in Europe. His role focuses on vector surveillance and mitigation strategies to reduce disease risk for the warfighter. www.army.mil/article/2904...

Recent investigation reveals a high diversity of Rickettsia species in ticks beyond Rocky Mountain spotted fever. For military medicine, this highlights the need for broader diagnostic awareness when treating personnel stationed in wooded training environments. academic.oup.com/jme/article-...

Nominations are open for the 2026 David Cooksey PestVet of the Year Award! This is a great chance to recognize a U.S. military veteran who has demonstrated excellence and selfless service within the pest management industry. www.npmapestworld.org/your-busines...

The FY2026 NDAA establishes a new Biotechnology Management Office to accelerate the development of bio-based defense solutions. This means new support for biomanufacturing innovative pest controls and enhanced intelligence sharing on biological threats. www.biotech.senate.gov/press-releas...

The 2026 outlook for IPM focuses on AI-driven advisory systems, drone-based surveillance, and biological controls like entomopathogenic fungi. Precision technology is now a primary driver in reducing pesticide use while maintaining force protection. farmonaut.com/usa/pest-far...

New research shows that deforestation in the Atlantic Forest is driving mosquito species to seek human blood as their preferred hosts disappear. This highlights an increasing risk of new disease vectors emerging in changing environments. www.popsci.com/environment/...

Recent investigation reveals a high diversity of Rickettsia species in ticks beyond Rocky Mountain spotted fever. For military medicine, this highlights the need for broader diagnostic awareness when treating personnel stationed in wooded training environments. academic.oup.com/jme/advance-...