U.S. News
Texas Acts Quickly to Halt Dangerous Pest Threat
Clear Facts
- Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration to prevent the New World screwworm fly from entering the state.
- The order empowers the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team to use all available state resources for prevention efforts.
- The New World screwworm fly is moving north from Mexico but has not yet reached Texas or the U.S.
Governor Abbott’s disaster declaration aims to defend Texas livestock and wildlife from a destructive parasite advancing from Mexico.
This action activates full state prevention and response capabilities against the New World screwworm fly.
“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,” Abbott said in a statement.
Abbott emphasized that state law enables him to intervene prior to significant damage occurring.
“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,” he continued.
The declaration mobilizes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission as joint leaders of the response team.
Abbott has also referenced cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build a $750 million facility to produce sterile New World Screwworm flies near Edinburg, Texas.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has labeled the parasite a ‘devastating pest.’
“When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds and, in rare cases, people. It is not only a threat to our ranching community, but it is a threat to our food supply and our national security,” the department stated.
Texas officials have signaled they are ready to fully eradicate the pest if it appears.
Stay informed for further updates as Texas remains vigilant in defending its agricultural interests against invasive threats.
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