How Texas Is Tackling The New World Screwworm Threat

Seventy miles south of the Texas border, Mexican officials have confirmed the presence of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating fly that lays eggs in the open wounds of animals and, in rare cases, humans. Once the larvae hatch, they feed on living tissue and can kill livestock, pets, and even cause life-threatening infections in people. Ranchers, pet owners, and rural communities could face devastating losses if the pest crosses into Texas.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sounds the Alarm

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has launched an aggressive New World Screwworm Trapping Plan. Traps will be placed:

Along the Texas-Mexico border from Maverick/Webb County to Brownsville
At export pens in Brownsville, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo, and Houston
Around key port regions in Galveston and Corpus Christi

The traps will be checked weekly, and any suspicious flies will be sent to USDA labs for confirmation. Miller said Texas is “taking proactive steps to monitor, detect, and stop this parasite before it harms Texas agriculture.”

Federal and Texas A&M Scientists Deploy New Technology

Meanwhile, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has teamed up with Texas A&M University to supercharge the fight using a safer, faster version of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Instead of using radioactive cobalt to sterilize male flies, researchers are switching to advanced electron beam (eBeam) technology, making it possible to produce 100 million sterile flies every 24 hours to crash screwworm populations before they spread north.

Why This Matters to Texans

Texas is built on cattle, horses, and beloved pets. A screwworm outbreak could devastate ranchers and wildlife and bring painful, sometimes deadly infections to animals and humans. State and federal leaders say early detection is our best defense, and that ranchers, veterinarians, and pet owners should watch for unusual wounds that won’t heal and report suspicious cases.

What Texans Should Do if They Suspect Screwworm

Check animals regularly: Inspect pets, livestock, and wildlife around your property for wounds that don’t heal or look infested.
Seek a vet fast: If you spot maggots or foul-smelling sores, call a veterinarian immediately.
Report cases: Contact the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) at 1-800-550-8242 or your local vet; early reports stop outbreaks.
Stay updated: Watch for TDA and USDA alerts on screwworm activity near the Texas border.

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