Despite the social media world buzzing about the flies that lay the eggs that produce the maggots that are what we call the New World Screwworm, the Oklahoma Farm Report has been told that there are no confirmed cases of the NWS in Oklahoma- or for that matter- in Texas.
Oklahoma State Veterinarian Dr. Rod Hall says there have been a handful of samples that have been submitted to Oklahoma labs qualified to test whether the maggot samples are New World Screwworm or not. In every case- they are not- and Dr. Hall says the maggots are from blowflies.
Dr. Hall adds the location in Mexico that had the closest confirmed NWS- about 370 miles south of the southern tip of Texas- has not seen any new cases of NWS since the initial positive test. Dr. Hall told Ron Hays ” there have been no new cases of New World Screwworm in that area 370 miles south of Texas for several weeks” and that USDA officials believe that they may have stopped any advance from that location- and in fact are reporting the new cases in Mexico are occurring about 700 miles south of Texas. He adds he understands that some sterile flies continue to be released in the area of the case in Veracruz (370 miles south of Texas) but that most of the flies are being used in that hot zone 700 miles south of Texas.
Dr. Hall says one sample from Oklahoma has been sent to the lab in Ames, Iowa and it was confirmed that it was not NWS. He says he appreciates local Vets and livestock producers sending samples of maggots to the two state labs and that will help us monitor this situation as we watch the situation south of us in both Texas and Mexico.
Dr. Hall also indicated that USDA officials have teased a big announcement is coming tomorrow- and this has been reported in a USDA media release- “U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins and Texas Governor Greg Abbott will hold a press conference in Austin, Texas TOMORROW, August 15th. Secretary Rollins will make a major announcement regarding the Trump Administration’s response to New World Screwworm (NWS) at the Texas State Capitol.” Dr. Hall speculated that might mean word the US government will move forward to build a sterile fly production facility in the US.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma Farm Report also reached out to Michael Kelsey of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association- and he further confirmed what Dr. Hall reported Thursday morning.
Kelsey says the social media posts by an out of state entity shows they don’t know what is really happening in Oklahoma or Texas. He says while the Cattle Futures market a week ago (last Friday) was spooked by the rumors- the cash trade and the futures market this week is not buying what those who are trying to keep the rumors alive are saying.
