TEXAS — Federal and state officials escalated their response to the New World screwworm threat this week after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed three additional cases in Texas, bringing the state’s total to five. The latest detections span a wide geographic range, raising concern that the parasitic fly may be spreading beyond the initial outbreak zone in South Texas.
New Cases Spread Across the State
The three newly confirmed locations include La Salle County, roughly 80 miles southeast of Zavala County, where a calf was found infested, and Gillespie County, about 170 miles to the north, where a goat was affected. A third case emerged in Andrews County — approximately 400 miles north of Zavala County — involving a dog whose owner was from Lea County, New Mexico.
That Andrews County dog case is notable for two reasons: the animal was seen on Saturday, and neither the dog nor its owner had local ties to the area. Authorities said the dog’s travel history and exposure details remain unknown. The case has also been designated New Mexico’s first confirmed screwworm detection.
The original Texas case was reported last week in Zavala County. The geographic spread from that initial site to Andrews County represents a significant leap northward and has prompted officials to broaden monitoring and response operations. The infestation has been tracking northward since at least 2023.
Federal Adviser Named, Emergency Center Activated
President Donald Trump appointed John Bellinger as a senior adviser responsible for coordinating New World screwworm preparedness at the federal level. Bellinger is a member of the Texas A&M University Board of Regents, to which he was appointed in 2023, and currently chairs the board’s committee on research — a background officials say is relevant to the scientific and agricultural dimensions of the outbreak.
The announcement came during a joint press conference held by the USDA and Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville. The event launched a coordinated public outreach effort operating under the banner “Inspect, Report, and Protect.”
A state emergency command center will run around the clock, staffed by Texas A&M specialists alongside state personnel. The 24/7 operation is intended to accelerate detection and containment as officials work to prevent further geographic spread.
Abbott struck a confident tone at the press conference, saying, “We have beaten this before and we will do it again.” USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the stakes in agricultural terms, stating that “South Texas ranchers are the front line of this battle against screwworm.”
By the Numbers
5 — Total confirmed screwworm cases in Texas as of Monday
400 miles — Distance between the Andrews County case and the original Zavala County detection
$1.8 billion — Estimated potential damage to Texas’s cattle industry if the fly is not contained
2023 — Year screwworm’s northward migration trend was first documented
What Is the New World Screwworm?
The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays its eggs in open wounds on living mammals. The larvae feed on living tissue, causing severe damage and, if untreated, death. Cattle are particularly vulnerable, making the pest a serious threat to livestock operations. Among the options under federal review is the use of ivermectin mixed into animal feed as a treatment and preventive measure.
Canada has already responded to the outbreak by halting cattle imports from Texas after screwworm was detected in two calves, adding trade pressure to an already serious agricultural concern.
What’s Next
Federal and state officials have signaled that containment operations will intensify in the coming days. Bellinger’s appointment suggests the White House intends to maintain close oversight of the response. The USDA is continuing to trace exposure histories for affected animals, particularly the Andrews County dog whose travel route remains unclear. Ranchers and veterinarians across Texas have been urged to report any suspected cases immediately to state and federal authorities through the newly activated command center.
With the economic stakes exceeding $1.8 billion and cases now confirmed from South Texas to the New Mexico border, the coming weeks will test whether the coordinated federal-state response can arrest the parasite’s spread before it takes wider hold.