For the second time, Mexican officials have confirmed New World Screwworms in Nuevo León, Mexico, less than one hundred miles from Laredo, Texas. The latest case status map show three active cases in the Neuvo León area, approximately 90 miles from the United States. The most recent case was a seven day old calf- and USDA reports that sterile flies are being used in that area where the case was detected. Along the coast south of Brownsville, in the state of Tamaulipas, there are multiple cases reported in the last week in bovine, equine and swine. Again- sterile flies are being dropped in that hot zone for the screwworm.
These most recent cases have prompted Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller to urge livestock producers to remain vigilant. Miller described the pest as an immediate threat to Texas livestock and the broader food supply, warning that the situation requires urgent attention from producers and government agencies.
“The New World screwworm is not some distant problem. It is a direct and imminent threat to Texas, and we are treating it that way,” Miller said in a statement.
He said that while the U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken steps to respond, the spread of the pest has not yet been contained, raising concerns about its potential impact on the livestock industry.
Miller called on producers to closely monitor their animals and report any unusual signs as quickly as possible, emphasizing that early detection is critical to preventing wider outbreaks. “There is zero margin for delay when it comes to screwworm,” he said.
State officials are working with federal, state and local partners to address the situation, though Miller said additional efforts are needed to stop the spread at its source.
The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue, was eradicated from the United States decades ago through a sterile insect technique. That approach remains central to current control efforts.
The PDF below is the latest reports of New World Screwworms as reported by Mexico:
