The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported three more New World screwworm (NWS) cases in Texas, bringing the U.S. total to 15 and keeping the state at the center of the animal health response.
According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), NWS was detected in two cattle in Edwards County on June 22 and in a sheep located in Crockett County on June 21.
The first case of NWS in the U.S. in more than 60 years was confirmed June 4 in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas. A second case, located 5.6 miles from the first, was confirmed June 6 in a one-month-old calf, also in Zavala County.
On June 8, three additional cases were confirmed – a calf in La Salle County, Texas; a goat in Gillespie County, Texas; and a dog in Andrews County, Texas. The case in the dog was later updated to be located in Lea County, New Mexico, marking that state’s first case.
NWS was also confirmed in a calf in La Salle County, Texas on June 10. NWS has additionally been confirmed in goats and sheep, resulting in 15 cases total in the state.
NWS is a parasitic fly that causes severe, potentially fatal infestations by feeding on the living tissue of warmblooded animals. Quick detection, treatment and reporting are vital to safeguarding livestock, wildlife and pets.
The new count puts immediate pressure on livestock surveillance and on-farm biosecurity in Texas. NWS is being tracked as both an animal health and livestock market concern, and each confirmed case adds urgency for producers and veterinarians who need fast visibility into where detections are occurring and how response measures are being applied.
