Texas officials declared a state emergency on June 5, 2026 [2], after a cattle screwworm was confirmed in a calf [3].
The emergency declaration aims to prevent the parasite from spreading across the livestock industry, which could cause significant economic damage and animal suffering.
The case was first confirmed on June 4, 2026 [3], involving a calf only three weeks old [1]. The infection was located in Zavala County, with nearby Uvalde County also identified as an affected area [5].
Dr. Máximo Brito, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Illinois, said the parasite is not known to affect humans and experts consider the risk to people to be negligible [1]. The screwworm fly, known in Spanish as *gusano barrenador*, targets open wounds in animals.
State health officials and the Governor's office are coordinating efforts to contain the fly's re-emergence [2]. The parasite is particularly dangerous because it burrows into the living tissue of mammals, unlike other fly larvae that feed on dead tissue.
Authorities are monitoring the region to ensure the infestation does not expand beyond the current counties [5]. This rapid response follows the confirmation of the case in the young calf to prevent a wider agricultural crisis [1].
“Texas officials declared a state emergency on June 5, 2026”
The re-emergence of the cattle screwworm in Texas represents a significant veterinary and economic threat rather than a public health crisis. Because the parasite can devastate livestock populations, the state's decision to declare an emergency allows for the rapid mobilization of resources to quarantine the affected area and prevent a wider outbreak that could impact the U.S. beef and dairy industries.
