USDA Confirms New World Screwworm in Texas

During a call with reporters, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said one case was found in the umbilical area of a three-week-old calf in La Pryor, Texas. “We have established a 20-kilometer infested zone around the detection and implementing quarantines, movement controls, and surveillance in this area,” she says.

New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly, and the larvae burrow into open wounds of warm-blooded animals. She says an expedited, targeted release of sterile files is underway, which remains the most effective way to control the pest. “We are increasing trapping and surveillance for New World Screwworm (NWS) flies along the border just outside of the dispersal area,” Rollins says. “We are implementing New World Screwworm surveillance for the NWS flies along the border and just outside of the dispersal area.”

Dr. Lewis “Bud” Dinges, Texas State Veterinarian and Executive Director of the Animal Health Commission, says producers need to monitor their animals. “Quick notification leads to quick detection and quick response,” he says. “To stop the pest from spreading, animals still need to be able to move. We’ll just make sure that they are moving safely and not moving the screw worm with it. Number two, this is not a food safety issue. This is a food production issue. NWS do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables or other food sources. And number three, infestations from this pest could be prevented. Animal owners need to look at their animals as often as possible and stay vigilant monitoring for wounds that can be covered and treated.”

A cow/calf operator from Texas says this incursion of NWS is much different than what cattle producers faced in the 1970s. Stephen Diebel stated, “We have many more products and treatment opportunities than we had in the 60s and 70s and I think as a proactive producer, we can definitely manage this.”

He says the industry continues to navigate labor shortages, which can make it difficult for operations to see every head of livestock every day. “It brings about the importance of livestock owners to really get a handle on not only the communication between fellow ranchers but also just being able to see these animals on a more frequent basis,” he says.

Colin Woodall, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says work continues to protect the interests of American cattle producers, and the association says it appreciates the USDA and other agencies for working rapidly to bolster critical resources that protect producers, including building a domestic sterile fly facility, increasing fly surveillance, and expediting the availability of necessary drugs and treatments for cattle.

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard says the confirmation marks a serious moment for American livestock producers and it requires an immediate, coordinated response to protect animal health, the national cattle herd, America’s livestock producers, and the nation’s food supply. Bullard says the industry will go from prevention to eradication.

The USDA and Texas officials are taking immediate action to eradicate NWS from the U.S. USDA is also urging residents to check pets and livestock for signs of an infestation. Areas to inspect are body openings like the nose, ears, and genitalia, or the navel of newborn animals.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

Prevention efforts were undertaken early by stopping the export of cattle from Mexico where the first outbreak occurred. Unfortunately, once the threat reached closer to the Texas border, stopping the migration north was nearly impossible. As a result, the U.S. must focus on eradicating this threat to livestock and appears to be taking action quickly. That said, it may be a long-protracted battle and could impact cattle production for some time to come. This may only serve to exacerbate the current beef shortage and consumer price concerns. We will plan for the worst-case scenario and hope for the best possible outcome – a short-lived battle against NWS!

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