News

USDA confirms second case of New World screwworm

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed a second case of New World screwworm. This detection was found in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, less than 6 miles from the first incident. 

The USDA says it has intensified sterile fly operations, and two million sterile screwworm flies will be dispersed twice a week to disrupt the pest’s lifecycle. 

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins tells Brownfield the sterile fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico is expected to begin production soon. “We are being told that we’ll have flies coming out of that facility this month, in June,” she says.  “We’ll have start with about 30 million flies, then in a couple of months be at full capacity of 100 million.”

APHIS says another 4 million sterile flies per week will be shipped to Texas and will be dispersed using 24 ground release chambers placed in and around detection zones. 

The National Veterinary Services Laboratories has deployed an entomologist to the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Kerrville, Texas, to expedite the confirmation processes.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued emergency use authorizations for several treatments to support cattle, horses, swine, goats, exotic animals, and wildlife.

In addition, Rollins says the department has increased surveillance efforts. “We increased the tick riders and doubled their capacity,” she says.  “We infused funding about 8 months ago.  So we started this last year in preparation.”

A more than 12-mile infested zone has been established with quarantines, movement controls, and heightened surveillance. 

USDA is urging residents in the area to check animals for draining or enlarging wounds, maggots or egg masses, signs of discomfort, or lesions in body openings. 

New World screwworm is not a food safety issue.  

AUDIO: Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins