AUSTIN, Texas – In a concerning update for Texas agriculture, Governor Greg Abbott held a news conference to address the reemergence of a flesh-eating parasite known as the New World Screwworm. This alarming announcement comes in the wake of a confirmed case reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Joining Abbott at the conference were key figures in Texas agriculture, including Bud Dinges, the Texas State Veterinarian, David Yoskowitz, Executive Director of the Wildlife Department, and Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer from the USDA’s response team. Their collective expertise underscores the seriousness of the situation.
Just two days prior, the USDA confirmed a case involving a 3-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas, located about 50 miles from the Mexico border. This finding has prompted immediate actions to control the situation.
In response, Dinges announced the establishment of a 12-mile quarantine zone around the affected area. This measure prohibits the movement of any warm-blooded animals, including pets, outside the zone without prior inspection. Such precautions aim to contain the parasite and prevent further spread.
The New World Screwworm has a long-standing history of devastating livestock populations in the United States, particularly from the 1930s to the 1960s. The USDA successfully eradicated the pest during this period by implementing innovative sterile insect techniques, where sterile male flies were released to mate with wild females, drastically reducing the population.
In 1966, the U.S. was declared free from indigenous screwworms, although sporadic outbreaks occurred into the 1970s. The last reported case was in 1982, with only a few imported cases documented since. The USDA’s effective management has prevented significant losses to the livestock industry, which previously faced billions in damages due to this parasite.
However, in late 2024, screwworm flies were detected again in Mexico, raising alarms among agricultural officials in the U.S. and Texas. For over a year, agriculture leaders have been sounding the alarm about the potential re-infestation, recalling the historical economic impact of the pest.
The lifecycle of the screwworm is particularly troubling. These flies lay their eggs in the wounds or body openings of warm-blooded animals, including livestock, pets, and in rare cases, humans. Once the larvae hatch, they burrow into the host’s flesh, causing severe and often fatal damage if not treated promptly.
To combat this reemergence, the USDA has been actively dropping sterile flies in South Texas since February. Currently, they are releasing approximately 4 million sterile flies twice a week and introducing an additional 4 million pupae into the environment to help mitigate the population.
Despite the alarming news, Rollins assured the public that there are no additional detections of the screwworm in the U.S. at this time. It is important to note that while the larvae pose a significant threat to livestock, they do not infest food supplies. With proper treatment, the infested calf is expected to recover.
As Texas faces this agricultural challenge, the collaboration between state and federal officials highlights the commitment to protecting livestock and ensuring the safety of the food supply. The vigilance of agriculture leaders and the ongoing efforts to control the screwworm population will be crucial in the coming months.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
