Center for Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

Since the global outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) began in 2020, HPAI H5N1 has infected domestic and wild avian and mammalian species. The virus has been found to infect more than 70 mammalian species¹.  

At Zoetis, we routinely update our vaccines to ensure they match current virulent strains. In 2025, we received U.S. conditional licenses for our Avian Influenza vaccines H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus, for chickens and lactating cattle. This vaccine for poultry also received a conditional license in Canada in 2025. These vaccines were designed to match the current strain circulating in poultry and dairy cattle and be differentiated from naturally infected animals. In 2025, Zoetis proudly donated doses of its recent vaccine formulated for cattle for a special conservation project in partnership with The Marine Mammal Center and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Zoetis has a long history of developing vaccines for avian influenza and stands ready to work with our customers and government authorities to provide the right mix of tools for their prevention strategies, including vaccine development if warranted. 

Our scientists first worked on HPAI vaccines in 2001-02 when outbreaks occurred in flocks in Southeast Asia. In 2006, we utilized our reverse genetics system to develop and license an Avian Influenza H5N3 vaccine to address a global outbreak. And, in 2016, we developed an H5N1 vaccine, which was conditionally licensed by the USDA and sold to the U.S. National Veterinary Stockpile that year. We provided this H5N1 vaccine to the USDA for U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s emergency use in California Condors in 2023. In 2024, our team in New Zealand collaborated with the Department of Conservation to provide our H5N3 vaccine, and in 2025 we provided our H5N2 vaccine, to help protect endangered birds.

¹ Update on H5N1 Panzootic: Infected Mammal Species Increase by Almost 50% in Just Over a Year. PubMed. Accessed June 2026.

Bluetongue Virus (BTV), a viral disease that infects ruminants including cattle, goats and sheep, spread rapidly in Germany in 2024¹ and hundreds of cases were reported in the United Kingdom in 2025². The disease is transmitted by biting midges, and rising temperatures mean the insects – and thus the virus – can persist during the winter months. To support livestock farmers, we are monitoring the epidemiology of the new serotype BTV3 that has been spreading in northern Europe and are exploring potential new vaccine technology options.

¹ Animal Disease Situation, Bluetongue Disease. Friedrich Loeffler Institute. Accessed June 2026. 
² Bluetongue: latest situation. UK Government. Accessed June 2026.

Endemic in certain Caribbean nations and South America, having advanced north through Central America and Mexico in recent years and confirmed in the U.S. as of June 2026, New World screwworm (NWS) poses a One Health threat with the potential to harm the health and well-being of animals, as well as the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers, in the United States¹. The larva of NWS flies burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing infestations in domestic livestock and wildlife and potentially life-threatening myiasis in people.

Committed to supporting livestock producers and veterinarians with science-based solutions, Zoetis received a conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Dectomax^®-CA1 Injectable for the prevention and treatment of infestations caused by the larvae of Cochliomyia hominivorax (myiasis) and prevention of reinfestation for 21 days. The conditional approval applies to beef cattle, female dairy cattle less than 20 months of age, pregnant beef cows, newborn calves and bulls.

For more information on NWS and the conditional approval for Dectomax-CA1 Injectable, visit zoetisus.com/NewWorldscrewworm.

Because NWS can affect animals beyond cattle, Zoetis aims to support veterinarians and pet owners across species as needed. 

Dectomax-CA1 is conditionally approved by FDA pending a full demonstration of effectiveness under NADA 141-616.

Dectomax and Dectomax-CA1 Injectable for use in cattle have a 35-day pre-slaughter withdrawal period. Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal. Dectomax Injectable for use in swine has a 24-day pre-slaughter withdrawal period. Use of Dectomax or Dectomax-CA1 in dogs may result in fatalities. Consult your veterinarian for assistance in the diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitism.

¹  New World Screwworm. U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Accessed June 2026.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, and vaccinating dogs can help save human lives. Zoetis has provided canine rabies vaccines to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) rabies vaccine bank, so far delivering needed vaccines to multiple countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. Zoetis supports the Zero By 30 Strategic Plan initiated by the United Against Rabies collaboration which is comprised of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC).

Asian Longhorned Ticks: Having spread to 26 states, Asian Longhorned Ticks can threaten the health of cattle and the economic livelihoods of producers and their communities. Supported by investment from the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), Zoetis is working to develop vaccine technology to combat Asian longhorned ticks using the same technology we employed for the USDA and Texas Animal Health Commission’s Cattle Tick Fever Eradication Program.

African Swine Fever: While African Swine Fever (ASF) is not a health danger to people, it can devastate pigs and severely impact swine producers’ livelihoods as it continues to spread in South Africa, parts of Europe and southeast Asia which can impact food security. Zoetis is an industry partner in the EU-funded international collaborative project coordinated by the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI). We also continue to explore potential additional vaccine pathways.

Lumpy Skin Disease: Affecting cattle and water buffalo, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) is endemic in most countries of Africa, and the disease also has been reported in China, southeastern Asian countries and southern Europe. LSD is not zoonotic and thus not a health threat for people. Zoetis remains committed to supporting livestock farmers and continues to monitor the disease through our surveillance network.