Texas will receive immediate federal funding to expand its response to the growing threat posed by the New World screwworm, Gov. Greg Abbott announced.
The funding, provided through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, will enable the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to hire additional personnel and increase inspection efforts to contain the pest.
“This federal funding allows us to place more inspectors in the field and bolster our state response,” Abbott said in a statement. “Texas will take every action necessary to safeguard our livestock producers and agricultural economy from the New World screwworm.”
According to the governor’s office, the agreement will fund 15 new term positions, including 10 field inspectors and specialists in emergency management and epidemiology. State officials said the additional personnel will significantly expand Texas’ inspection and containment capabilities.
Threat To Livestock Industry
The New World screwworm is the larval stage of a parasitic fly that invades the living tissue of warm-blooded animals through open wounds. Left untreated, infestations can be fatal to livestock, pets, wildlife, and other animals.
The outbreak has raised concerns across Texas’ agricultural sector, which contributes billions of dollars annually to the state economy. As of June 18, the USDA has documented 12 confirmed NWS cases in the United States, 11 of which were located in Texas.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the federal government has prioritized eliminating the threat since the beginning of the Trump administration.
“Since day one of the Trump Administration, we have moved at lightning speed to eradicate the threat to the U.S. of New World screwworm,” Rollins said. “Today’s announcement will help us ensure we have ample strategies and resources to identify and combat this pest.”
State Response Intensifies
Abbott has taken several steps in recent months to address the outbreak.
The governor directed the creation of a joint Texas New World Screwworm Response Team that includes state agencies, livestock producers, veterinarians, wildlife experts, and federal partners. He also issued a statewide disaster declaration and activated the State Emergency Operations Center after the first confirmed cases were detected in Texas.
Earlier this year, Abbott joined Rollins in announcing that $750 million was spent to build a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg. The facility will use the sterile insect technique, a biological control method designed to disrupt the pest’s reproductive cycle and reduce populations over time.
State officials have also launched a free online certification course to train additional independent screwworm inspectors and help maintain the safe movement of livestock through commercial channels.
Public Asked To Remain Vigilant
Texas officials are urging livestock owners, pet owners, and hunters to regularly inspect animals for wounds and signs of infestation.
Authorities advised against moving potentially affected animals and encouraged immediate reporting of suspected cases.
Suspected infestations involving livestock or pets should be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission’s 24-hour veterinarian hotline at 1-800-550-8242. Suspected cases involving wildlife should be reported to Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists at 512-389-4505.
State leaders say rapid detection and reporting remain critical components of efforts to contain the outbreak and protect Texas agriculture.
