Texas Declares State of Disaster as New World Screwworm Advances North

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared a statewide disaster as the New World screwworm (NWS) advances north through Mexico, threatening Texas livestock and wildlife. Although no US cases have been detected, rising infections in Central America and northern Mexico prompted action. The declaration enables the Texas NWS response team to mobilize state resources for prevention and eradication. Texas and the USDA are investing $750 million in a sterile fly production facility in Edinburg, using a proven technique that eradicated NWS in 1966 by releasing sterile males to prevent reproduction.

Federal officials have expanded sterile fly dispersal up to 50 miles into Texas and intensified border surveillance, analyzing over 42,000 flies and conducting thousands of wildlife inspections with no detections. A recent imported horse case in Florida underscores vigilance. Veterinarians are urged to monitor animals for wounds with larvae and report suspected cases promptly to prevent potential outbreaks.