The “New World Screwworm Response Playbook” was developed as a resource to help animal health officials and responders manage and adapt their response if NWS is found in the U.S. The first draft of the Playbook was released in October 2025.
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released an updated Playbook to serve as a comprehensive guide to support coordinated, science-based action should NWS be detected.
“USDA continues to execute Secretary Rollins’ five-pronged plan to keep NWS out of the United States,” says Dudley Hoskins, USDA under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs. “While we are aggressively safeguarding American agriculture and working with Mexico to prevent further northward spread, we must also ensure that our domestic response plans are ready for immediate activation. Strong coordination with states, producers, veterinarians, sportsmen and other partners is essential to achieving that goal.”
Hoskins was a guest Tuesday on AgriTalk. He discussed NWS preventative and response measures, including the sterile fly dispersal efforts.
He explains the goal of the Playbook is to try to balance that constant posture of vigilance, prevention and emergency response coordination.
“We want to be as least disruptive to the industry and commerce as possible,” he explains.
Hoskins stresses APHIS is asking for feedback on version two of the Playbook as they continue to fine-tune the response plan.
“We’re asking that same community of states and industry partners to continue to review the playbook,” he explains. “We want to continue to have those discussions and and those deliberations to improve the can and hopefully perfect have to use it, and hopefully never have to use it.”
Refining the Rules: Key Updates to the 2026 Playbook
The updated Playbook outlines critical science-based strategies for federal, state, tribal and local responders, including how to:
- Coordinate response operations
- Reduce spread and prevent establishment of NWS in new areas
- Manage the pest in infested animals
- Implement NWS fly surveillance and control measures
- Maintain continuity of business
- Support efficient information flow and situational awareness
APHIS has released the updated New World Screwworm Response Playbook - strengthening preparedness via coordination with states, producers, veterinarians, wildlife & other partners.🤝
— USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (@USDA_APHIS) April 8, 2026
It guides rapid, science-based action should NWS be detected in the U.S.https://t.co/lgplvaNjDy pic.twitter.com/kq4wKbqkGY
Collaborative Design: Incorporating Tribal and Industry Expertise
After sharing the draft Playbook in October 2025, APHIS worked to gather feedback from state animal health officials, federal partners, livestock and wildlife industry groups, tribal partners, veterinary organizations and other key stakeholders to prepare the updated version.
According to the APHIS press release, “Their expertise and operational experience were essential in shaping practical, field-ready guidance for real-world response scenarios.”
Based on this feedback, APHIS made several key updates to the Playbook including clarifying and expanding:
- Terminology — NWS establishment, suspect, zones, types, phases, quarantines — treatment versus preventative NWS animal drugs and pesticide products
- Agency roles, responsibilities and authorities
- Animal movement requirements
- Wildlife management, including:
- Improved description of roles, responsibilities and authorities related to wildlife
- Added and improved definitions of confined, farmed, and free-ranging wildlife
- Refined guidance on use of antiparasitic drugs and pesticide for use on/in wildlife
- Development guidance on wildlife surveillance
Accessing the Playbook: Resources for Producers and Responders
APHIS updated four supplemental guidance documents that were posted with the draft Playbook and added an additional eight supplemental guidance documents, all referenced in the Playbook.
“To ensure continued alignment with state-level plans and industry practices, APHIS will continue to revise the Playbook as preparedness activities advance and evolve,” the release explains. “The agency will continue to work directly with states, territories, tribes, federal agencies, industry wildlife and other partners to refine response tools, strengthen coordination and support joint planning efforts.”
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