New World Screwworm
While USDA eradicated New World screwworm from the U.S. in 1966, there’s a constant risk of re-introduction. The parasitic fly larvae eat the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, such as cattle, causing serious, often deadly damage. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has warned it’s not a matter of if — but when — the pest makes its way back into the U.S.
Surveillance, reporting and veterinary partnerships are framed as critical ways to prevent a single case from becoming a national crisis.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins broke ground on a $750 million sterile fly facility in Texas and confirmed the border will remain closed until the New World screwworm threat is pushed back from the U.S. border.
A new genetic innovation from the Agricultural Research Service aims to produce 100% sterile male flies, maximizing facility efficiency and safeguarding the U.S. livestock industry from NWS.
Following extensive industry feedback, the updated guide provides a science-based roadmap for states, ranchers and veterinarians to combat potential NWS outbreaks.
Kansas State Veterinarian Dr. Justin Smith outlines a coordinated plan built on surveillance, targeted treatment and movement controls to protect cattle operations while preserving business stability.
Texas issues a statewide disaster declaration and USDA makes strategic reallocation of sterile flies to safeguard the U.S. livestock industry and public health.
Driving innovation to combat NWS and prevent its northward spread.
As the number of cases continue to rise and inch closer to the U.S. border, livestock producers need to be on alert.
Texas producers need to remain on alert as NWS continues to move north. The newest detection is in the state of Tamaulipas.
APHIS confirms a New World screwworm case in a 22-month-old bovine transported from Veracruz to a feedlot in Nuevo León.
New website centralizing New World screwworm information across the federal government.
This facility will increase the range of sterile fly release and bolster preparedness for New World screwworm.
NWS Response Playbook developed as a resource to help animal health officials and responders manage and adapt their response if New World screwworm is found in the U.S.
“Most screwworm migration does not come from adult flies making heroic flights northward. Instead, it comes from the movement of infested animals — cattle, deer, wildlife — and yes, even in rare cases, people. Wherever the animal goes, the parasite goes with them,” says Dr. Christopher Lee.
Historically, colder temperatures have played a crucial role in controlling New World screwworm’s geographical spread.
U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s is partnering with Texas A&M University to advance the sterile fly technique to halt NWS reproduction.
With New World screwworm within 70 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border, the livestock industry is on high alert. USDA continues to fight the northward spread of the parasite while debate continues on the border closure.
USDA says this is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry.
Mexico reports 53% increase in NWS cases since July.
An individual who had traveled to the U.S. from El Salvador has been confirmed with NWS.
HHS allows FDA emergency use of animal drugs to combat New World screwworm.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has announced a plan to build a facility near Edinburg, Texas. It will be capable of producing 300 million sterile flies per week to combat New World screwworm and is estimated to be in production in one year.
As a pork producer, you can’t personally control how far north the New World screwworm advances, but you can protect your own operations and interests as much as possible.
A critical line of defense, this mounted patrol is taking on new endeavors to keep NWS out of the country.
The next step to battling NWS is using swormlure, a synthetic bait designed to attract adult screwworm flies, combined with an insecticide to combat the pest.
The image, the smell, the emotions: five cattle producers and veterinarians from around the world share their first-hand experience with New World screwworm.
Secretary Rollins takes decisive action and shuts down cattle, bison and equine trade due to further northward spread of the devastating pest in Mexico.