Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins met with state and federal officials at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory on June 8, 2026, to provide an update on Texas’ response to the New World screwworm threat.
The briefing focused on the deployment of sterile flies across South Texas as the primary strategy to contain the pest, according to a press release issued by the governor’s office.
“Sterile flies are the well-established solution to the spread of the New World screwworm,” Abbott said. “The USDA is importing and dispersing those flies across South Texas and will recalibrate to deploy those sterile flies wherever needed. Texas is resilient. It is critical to stay vigilant and stay informed.”
Joining Abbott and Rollins were Michael Schmoyer, director of the New World screwworm Directorate for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; USDA Undersecretary Scott Hutchins; and Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director Dr. Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges, along with other state and federal officials.
According to the governor’s office, the USDA is dispersing sterile flies across affected areas and is working to stand up a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg near the Texas-Mexico border.
In August 2025, Rollins said the facility should be operational within a year, The Dallas Express reported at the time. She also revealed that the USDA planned to deploy $100 million in technology, increase horseback-mounted border patrols to search for outbreaks, and train and deploy dogs to detect the flesh-eating screwworms.
Abbott has taken several steps in response to the threat, including directing state agencies to form the joint Texas New World Screwworm Response Team, which assembled livestock producers, veterinarians, wildlife experts, and federal partners.
The governor also issued a statewide disaster declaration before any case was detected, followed by a disaster declaration directing state resources to Uvalde and Zavala counties. He directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate the State Emergency Operations Center to Level II, an escalated response posture.
Abbott urged ranchers and livestock owners to inspect animals daily, treat wounds quickly, and take steps to reduce fly populations. He stressed that early detection and treatment are key to slowing the pest’s spread.
Suspected cases in livestock should be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242, and suspected wildlife cases should be reported to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at 512-389-4505.
Updates and resources are available through the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the USDA.
