New World Screwworm in Texas: New Cases Detected
The new detections include 2 calves and 1 lamb as USDA prepares sterile fly dispersal flights over the newly infested zone.
- On Sunday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed 3 new cases of New World screwworm in Texas, bringing total domestic detections to 15 across Crockett and Edwards counties.
- New World screwworm first appeared in the United States on June 3, 2026, marking the first domestic infestation in six decades after the parasitic fly advanced north from Mexico.
- Deploying tens of millions of sterile flies weekly, the USDA aims to disrupt reproduction, though the agency noted the Sterile Insect Technique does not kill existing larvae.
- Texas officials established a quarantine zone requiring livestock owners to obtain authorization from the Texas Animal Health Commission before moving warm-blooded animals outside infested areas.
- Experts warn a widespread outbreak could cost Texas $1.8 billion in economic damage, and because the fly's life cycle averages 21 days, eradication requires multiple reproductive cycles.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Interactive map tracks screwworm spread
The interactive map below tracks the spread of New World screwworm cases across Texas and New Mexico and will be updated as new information becomes available. As of June 21, 2026, the USDA has confirmed 15 total cases in the region, and quarantine zones are shifting as state officials respond. The map breaks down where [...]
Is The Screwworm A Problem For The Meat Supply?
The New World screwworm has just been confirmed in two more animals in Edwards County, Texas. Could this parasite be a major issue for the meat supply? Already, it’s likely to affect prices as safety protocols are put in place. As Screwworm Spreads, USDA Partners With DHS Attempting To Control It The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed at least three infected cattle in Texas a few weeks ago. The beef industry has already bee…
USDA reports three new cases of screwworm, bringing total to 15
Flesh-Eating Screwworm Cases Rise to 15 After New Detections in Texas: USDA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on June 21 that three more cases of the flesh-eating New World screwworm have been detected in Texas, bringing the total in the United States to 15. The latest cases involved a lamb in Crockett County and two calves in Edwards County, Texas. The USDA said in a post on X that it would immediately begin releasing sterile flies outside the affected areas in Crockett County following the new detection t…
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New World screwworm in Texas: New cases detected
The first case of New World screwworm in the United States was reported on June 3, 2026. Since then, the country has recorded 15 total cases across two states, all found in domestic animals rather than wildlife.
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