President’s Letter

Dear HCVMA Members,  

‍ It was great to see HCVMA members in the SLVS 2026 Symposium with great insights on lymphoma, surgical complications, neurologic patients and immune mediated diseases. As August rolls around the corner, get our clients ready for the Hurricane season, Mosquito season and share tips to keep our patients to make sure they are cool in this hot season.

 For your clients, here are helpful resources that I would like to share:

Disaster Preparedness for Pets: Texas Animal Health Commission

Pet Preparedness Hot Weather Safety Tips – Hot Weather Safety Tips | ASPCA

New World Screwworm (NWS) Update – July 31, 2026

We’re grateful that Dr. Little’s March 2026 CE session prepared us ahead of the first confirmed NWS case on June 3rd. As of today, 43 cases have been confirmed. There are 3 dog cases confirmed. Two are inactive from Lea, NM and Pecos, TX (mitigation has resolved spread of NWS) and one is still active in Sutton, TX.

 A quarantine is currently in place due to an established New World Screwworm Infested Zone across 23 Texas counties:  Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Crockett, Edwards, Gillespie, Jim Hogg, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Schleicher, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb, Zapata, and Zavala.

All warm‑blooded animals within the zone may not move out without prior authorization from TAHC.

 Please stay proactive and informed through these resources:

NWS Case Dashboard – Confirmed Detections of New World Screwworm | APHIS

Weekly TBVME NWS Webinar – Mondays at 4 PM - Join Us for Our Weekly Webinar on New World Screwworm – Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, Report Suspected NWS - New World Screwworm,  If you are interested in the NWS preparedness and Response Education: New World Screwworm Preparedness and Response Education | Courses | AgriLife Learn.  Reach out to your drug representatives and stock up with preventatives for NWS

 HCVMA Website Revamp

 We are working behind the scenes for website updates. Our new logo has been approved, check it out on the website: Harris County Veterinarian Medical Association. Expect a more user‑friendly, streamlined site before our next CE meeting on  Thursday, September 10th.

Membership Reminder

 If you’ve been thinking about joining, it’s not too late. Members can still earn 9 CE credits for the remainder of 2026.

New membership: $160

Renewals after April 1: $185

 We’d love to welcome you to the HCVMA family. Join — Harris County Veterinarian Medical Association

 We can’t wait to see you again in person on Thursday, September 10th for our next meeting, featuring Dr. Sullivan’s talk on “Rabies and Beyond – A Veterinary Public Health Update.”

If you ever have questions, ideas, or simply want to connect, please reach out anytime at president@hcvma.org.  Stay informed, pro-active and vigilant.

Warm regards,
Dipa Brahmbhatt, VMD, MPH, MS
2026 President, Harris County Veterinary Medical Association

 Follow Us: Facebook: Harris County Veterinary Medical Association AND  Instagram: @harriscountyvma

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