U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said containment measures are in place after the New World screwworm was detected in Texas [1].
The parasite is a severe threat to livestock and domestic animals because it feeds on living tissue, potentially causing widespread death and economic loss if not contained.
Rollins spoke from the Knipling‑Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Texas [2]. The USDA is coordinating quarantine actions and the release of sterile flies to disrupt the parasite's breeding cycle and prevent the infestation from spreading further into the U.S. interior.
Reports on the scale of the outbreak vary. Some sources indicate that only one case was confirmed in a Texas calf [3], while others state a second cattle case has been confirmed [4]. Further reports suggest two new cases were identified, involving both a calf and a dog [5].
The detection occurred approximately 25 miles from the Texas‑Mexico border [6]. The USDA is focusing efforts on this region to establish a perimeter and eliminate the parasite before it can migrate north.
Secretary Rollins said the agency must contain the threat to protect the national agricultural economy. The Knipling‑Bushland laboratory serves as the primary hub for the sterile insect technique, which has historically been used to eradicate the screwworm from North America.
Officials are monitoring livestock movements and implementing strict quarantine protocols in the affected areas. The agency is working with local ranchers to identify any other infected animals and ensure rapid treatment to prevent the parasite from establishing a permanent population in the region.
“The USDA is coordinating quarantine actions and the release of sterile flies.”
The appearance of the New World screwworm in Texas represents a significant biosecurity risk to the U.S. livestock industry. Because the parasite attacks living flesh rather than dead tissue, it can kill animals quickly if untreated. The USDA's reliance on the sterile-fly technique, releasing infertile males to crash the population, is a proven but resource-intensive strategy aimed at preventing a full-scale agricultural crisis along the southern border.
