The New World screwworm outbreak in Texas widened as federal regulatory officials confirmed three additional cases far beyond the original South Texas containment zone and announced an escalated, multi-agency response.
According to reporting from The Texas Tribune, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed new parasite detections in a calf in La Salle County, a goat in Gillespie County, and an infested dog handled in Andrews County. The newly verified cases bring the total domestic count to five, marking a sharp geographical advance from the initial outbreak, which had previously been confined to two young calves in Zavala County.
The recent detections confirm that the parasite has migrated well outside the initial South Texas agricultural control area. Gillespie County is located approximately 170 miles north of Zavala County, while the Andrews County detection sits nearly 400 miles north near the Texas Panhandle, according to tracking data published by The Texas Tribune.
The Andrews County case also marks the first time the outbreak has breached state lines. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said the infested dog came from a household in Lea County, New Mexico, making it that state’s first documented screwworm case.
Agricultural officials emphasize that the spread to domestic dogs and goats demonstrates the parasite’s ability to infest a broad range of warm-blooded animals. State and federal agencies continue to stress that the biological threat is limited to live animals and poses no danger to the commercial meat supply.
Governor Greg Abbott and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins appeared jointly on Monday at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville to outline an aggressive containment strategy, according to an Office of the Texas Governor press briefing.
“Sterile flies are the well-established solution to the spread of the New World screwworm,” Governor Abbott stated, noting that the USDA is actively importing and dispersing sterile flies across affected sectors and will recalibrate deployment to any newly identified hot zones. Abbott was joined by USDA New World Screwworm Directorate Director Michael Schmoyer, Under Secretary Scott Hutchins, and Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Executive Director Dr. Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges.
The federal government has framed the biosecurity initiative in martial terms, introducing a “War on Screwworm” public campaign under the slogan “Inspect, Report, and Protect.” Secretary Rollins stated that the federal government is prioritizing the infestation by utilizing military command resources to accelerate supply logistics, research, and construction.
As part of the rollout, USDA Under Secretary Dudley Hoskins urged animal owners to maintain strict vigilance, inspect herds closely, and report any suspicious larvae. Federal researchers also noted they are evaluating supplemental medical interventions, including the feasibility of blending ivermectin into regional animal feed.
Biosecurity officials are monitoring whether the case count will climb higher into North Texas, or if the parasite will establish a foothold in regional wildlife populations, such as white-tailed deer.
The TAHC mandates that livestock owners immediately report suspected cases to the state hotline at 1-800-550-8242, while suspected wildlife infestations should be directed to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at 512-389-4505.