Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a statewide disaster declaration over the continued northward expansion of the New World screwworm, which has been labeled by state officials as a threat to Texas’ wildlife and livestock industries.
“Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the U.S., its northward spread from Mexico toward the U.S. southern border poses a serious threat to Texas’ livestock industry and wildlife,” said Abbott. “State law authorizes me to act to prevent a threat of infestation that could cause severe damage to Texas property, and I will not wait for such harm to reach our livestock and wildlife.”
Originating in South America, the New World screwworm is a parasite that eats the tissue of warm-blooded mammals. Although there have not yet been any confirmed cases of the parasite in the U.S., multiple cases have been confirmed near Texas’ border with Mexico.
State agricultural officials have warned that the parasite could not only devastate the Texas’ wildlife population but also its $15 billion cattle industry.
“With this statewide disaster declaration, the Texas NWS Response Team can fully utilize all state government prevention and response resources to prevent the re-emergence of this destructive parasite,” added Abbott. “Texas is prepared to fully eradicate this pest if need be.”
As of last week, several cases have been confirmed in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, according to a map published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The nearest USDA confirmed infestation was a singular case only 70 miles from the border in Nuevo León.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins launched a five-prong plan to combat the screwworm last June, which aims to eradicate the parasite back to the Darien Gap in Panama.
Rollins, alongside Abbott, announced plans to invest federal funds in the building of a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Force Base in Edinburg last August. This production facility will complement a fly dispersion facility currently under construction at the same location.
USDA Under-Secretary Dudley Hoskins informed Texas lawmakers during a joint hearing with the committees on Agriculture & Livestock and Culture, Recreation & Tourism in December that the dispersion facility was on track to be finished by the end of January.
Over 120 screwworm traps have been deployed along the border of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California for the monitoring of the screwworm along the U.S.-Mexico border.
In June, Abbott directed the creation of the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team, which was jointly established by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praised the governor’s urgent action, saying that the action gives his task force greater authority, resources, and speed to confront the growing threat.
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