As the New World screwworm reemerges near the U.S.-Mexico border, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has announced a new bait he says could stop the flesh-eating pest in its tracks.
The parasite is native to South America and eats the living tissue of warm-blooded mammals, making it a threat to Texas’ wildlife population and multi-billion-dollar cattle industry.
Miller explained the new and improved screwworm lure, named TDA Swormlure, will act as a synthetic bait specifically engineered to attract and kill adult New World screwworm flies.
A recent case of the parasite has been confirmed only 370 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, forcing officials into urgent action.
“When it comes to safeguarding Texas’ $15 billion cattle industry, we need to focus on action rather than words,” said Miller. “That’s why I instructed my Biosecurity team to develop an effective screwworm lure.”
Miller explained that although the common tool in combating the screwworm is the Sterile Insect Technique, which was used in the 1930s and 70s, it is no longer enough to combat the invasive parasite. He touted the results of the new lure, which kills 90 percent of flies on contact and is intended for widespread use.
Currently, the lure is being tested in Panama—a major hub for screwworms—and early feedback has been positive.
It is currently expected to outperform all other available elimination methods.
The Texas Department of Agriculture is also collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and other industry leaders to develop additional tools to combat the screwworm. These tools include an ivermectin additive for livestock and wildlife feed as well as the development of a cattle vaccine that kills screwworm larvae.
“Texas ranchers deserve better than outdated practices and bureaucratic complacency,” Miller added. “We’re taking real action with effective solutions to stop NWS in its tracks.”
“This is Texas innovation in action, and it’s exactly what our agricultural industry needs.”
In June, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission to establish a joint Texas New World Screwworm Response Team.
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