The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is urging all horse owners to vaccinate their animals against West Nile virus (WNV) following confirmed cases across the state. To date, horses in the following 11 counties have tested positive for WNV: Utah (5), Box Elder (3), Cache (3), Weber (2), Davis (1), Uintah (1), Salt Lake (1), Rich (1), San Juan (1), Tooele (1), and Summit (1). Of the confirmed cases, 14 horses have been treated and 6 were euthanized.

“Vaccination is the most effective way to protect horses from West Nile virus,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Amanda Price. “The vaccines are safe, low cost, and provide strong protection, while treatment for infected horses can be very expensive and does not guarantee recovery.”

West Nile virus is spread primarily by mosquitos and can cause serious illness or death in unvaccinated horses. Clinical signs may include stumbling, lack of coordination, muscle twitching, weakness, or paralysis. While some horses recover with intensive treatment, many do not survive;the disease kills up to 35% of infected horses, and up to 40% of the horses that survive never fully recover. UDAF strongly recommends that all horse owners: 

• Consult their veterinarian and ensure horses are current on WNV and other recommended vaccinations. 
• Take steps to reduce mosquito and bird populations around barns and pastures by removing standing water, regularly washing troughs, and using insect repellents when appropriate.

WNV and other neurologic diseases in horses are required to be reported to the State Veterinarian’s office. The State Veterinarian works with the Department of Health and Human Services, local health departments, and mosquito abatement districts to target areas known to have WNV to reduce the risk to other horses and people. 

For more information about equine WNV vaccination and disease prevention, please visit https://ag.utah.gov/documents/Equine-West-Nile-Encephalitis.pdf or contact your local veterinarian. For information on WNV in humans, please visit https://epi.utah.gov/west-nile-virus/.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) is alerting consumers to a national public health alert affecting ready-to-eat pasta meals sold nationwide, including in Utah, due to the risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. UDAF is urging consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for these products and dispose of them or return to the place of purchase.

These products have been linked to an outbreak that has caused 20 illnesses, including 19 hospitalizations and four deaths, one of which was in Utah. The actual number of illnesses may be higher than the number reported as many cases may go unreported and it can take 3-4 weeks to determine if an illness is part of an outbreak.

UDAF anticipates more updates as the investigation continues; consumers should check the USDA FSIS Recalls page (https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls) regularly for additional updates.

The following products are subject to the public health alert issued by USDA FSIS: 

• Sold at Walmart: 12-oz. clear plastic tray packages labeled “MARKETSIDE LINGUINE WITH BEEF MEATBALLS & MARINARA SAUCE” with “best if used by” dates SEP 22, 2025; SEP 24, 2025; SEP 25, 2025; SEP 29, 2025; SEP 30, 2025; and OCT 01, 2025. The product bears establishment number “EST. 50784” or “EST. 47718” inside the USDA mark of inspection. [view product photo here]
• Sold at Trader Joe’s: 16-oz. plastic tray packages labeled “TRADER JOE’S CAJUN STYLE BLACKENED CHICKEN BREAST FETTUCCINE ALFREDO” with “best if used by” dates 9/20/2025, 9/24/2025, or 9/27/2025 printed on the front label of the packaging. The product bears establishment number “P- 45288” inside the USDA mark of inspection. [view product photo here]
• Full USDA FSIS alert

Previously Recalled Products (no longer on shelves, but consumers may still have them frozen at home):
FreshRealm previously recalled Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo meals produced before June 17, 2025. These meals were sold in the refrigerated section of Walmart and Kroger stores and are intended for microwaving before eating and are past expiration but may still be in consumers’ freezers. They include:

• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (12.3 oz.) – best-by date of June 26, 2025 or prior
• Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine (32.8 oz.) – best-by date of June 27, 2025 or prior
• Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (12.5 oz.) – best-by date of June 19, 2025 or prior
• Establishment numbers: “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” in the USDA mark of inspection
• USDA FSIS Recall Notice, [view product photos here]

What Consumers Should Do:

• Check your refrigerator and freezer. If you have any of the products listed above, do not eat them. Throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund.
• Contact your retailer if you are unsure whether a product you purchased is part of this recall or public health alert.
• Seek medical advice if you develop symptoms of listeriosis, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Pregnant people, older adults, and individuals with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria, but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after. If you have symptoms of listeriosis within two months after eating the recalled products,  seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the recalled  food.

UDAF is working closely with state and federal partners to ensure Utah consumers are informed and protected. Additional information and updates can be found below:

• Product images:
  • Trader Joe’s Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce
  • Marketside Chicken Alfredo and Homechef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
• USDA FSIS Public Health Alert 
• CDC Listeria Outbreak Linked to Prepared Meals Notice
• Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to [email protected]. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) has confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey facility in Sanpete County. HPAI is a contagious viral disease that affects domestic poultry and wild birds, often leading to high death rates in flocks. “Commercial turkey facilities in the northern U.S. and here in Utah have been the most impacted by HPAI this falI. With migratory bird season just beginning, we may see a greater impact as the season progresses. It is imperative that poultry producers practice strong biosecurity.” said State Veterinarian Dr. Amanda Price.

UDAF is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) on the incident response. All commercial facilities in the area have been quarantined, and birds at the affected site will be depopulated to prevent further spread. As part of existing avian influenza response plans, UDAF and its federal partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock.

“The loss of this flock is a significant hardship for the producer and their community and our team is working closely with them to minimize the risk of spread to other facilities. That said, this incident involves a single round of birds from one facility and is not expected to cause a notable impact on the availability of turkeys in Utah or across the country leading up to Thanksgiving. Consumers should feel confident that turkey and poultry products remain safe and readily available,” said Commissioner Kelly Pehrson.

Poultry owners should vigilantly watch their flocks for signs of HPAI, which include high death loss among flocks, nasal discharge, decreased appetite or water consumption, and lack of coordination in birds. Owners of birds experiencing any of these signs should immediately contact the State Veterinarian’s Office at [email protected].

HPAI is often spread by wild migratory waterfowl. The virus can be carried into domestic flocks through direct contact with wild birds, contaminated equipment, or people moving between flocks. Anyone involved with poultry production, from small backyard flock owners to large commercial producers, should review their biosecurity plans to ensure the safety of their birds. While HPAI is a serious disease in poultry, it does not currently present an immediate risk to public health. As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

Helpful resources:

• Biosecurity information, including videos, checklists, and a toolkit are available at: https://ag.utah.gov/poultry-hpai/ and https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/defend-the-flock.

• Information on avian influenza in humans: https://epi.utah.gov/bird-flu-in-humans/.

UDAF’s Pesticide Program will be teaching a Private Pesticide Applicator Workshop in Monticello on Monday, September 22, 2025.  It will take place from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at the Hideout Community Center at 648 S Hideout Way, Monticello, UT, 84535.  UDAF’s Jared Vernon will be teaching about pesticide laws and regulations, Michael Wierda, PhD., the USU PSEP (Pesticide Safety Education Program) will be teaching about pesticide safety, with AJ Ferguson on pesticide use.

The agenda will be:

9:00 – 10:30 Pesticide Laws and Regulations

10:30 – 12:00 Pesticide Safety

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch (on your own)

1:00 – 2:00 Pesticide Use

2:00 – 2:30 Demonstration

2:30 – 3:00 Exam Preparation

3:00 – 4:00 Private Pesticide Applicator Exam

Attendees will need to email me by September 19 to register for the workshop. ([email protected])  They will also need to bring their own laptop computer to take the exam and receive their license.