AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott, alongside state health officials, has announced rapid actions in response to the first recorded instance of flesh-eating screwworm in the United States, which has been identified in Texas.
During a news conference, Governor Abbott emphasized that the situation does not pose a food safety risk but rather a significant challenge to food production. He has updated a statewide emergency declaration to facilitate the mobilization and reallocation of resources, ensuring that all necessary state personnel are available to expedite the eradication efforts against the screwworm.
The eradication strategy includes the operation of a major sterile fly production and dispersal facility located in Edinburg, with primary activities concentrated in Zavala and Uvalde Counties.
What Residents Can Do
Officials are advising the public to conduct daily checks on livestock, paying particular attention to small wounds and tick bites, which should be treated promptly. They also encourage efforts to minimize fly populations and report any concerns directly to the appropriate authorities.
Background on the Flesh-Eating Screwworm
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed that the parasite was found in the umbilical region of a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, situated southwest of San Antonio. The New World screwworm is recognized as one of the most destructive pests affecting livestock and wildlife, as its larvae feed exclusively on the living flesh of warm-blooded animals, leading to severe injuries, significant economic losses, and even death if not treated. Though rare, these parasites can also infect humans.
In response to this urgent situation, the USDA and the Texas Animal Health Commission have established a joint Incident Command Team and designated a 12-mile infested zone surrounding the affected area in Zavala County. Strict quarantines and movement restrictions on live animals have been implemented.
To combat the screwworm population, federal officials are accelerating the release of billions of lab-raised sterile flies. They are deploying ground release chambers to complement the four million sterile flies already being released via aerial methods in the region each week. This strategy aims to reduce the population by ensuring that any mating between wild flies and sterile flies results in no offspring.
