New World Screwworm Detected in Texas County

For the first time this century, a horse in a Texas border county has been discovered with an infestation of the New World screwworm (NWS). Officials from the U.S. Equestrian Federation confirmed that the screwworm was found on the hind leg of a working horse in Presidio County, Texas.

“Horse owners should inspect their horses daily for any signs of wounds, swelling, drainage, unpleasant odors, or maggots. It’s especially important to check small cuts, surgical sites, the umbilical region of foals, and moist areas like the lips, nostrils, eyes, and genital regions,” the association noted on its website. They emphasized, “If you spot maggots or anything out of the ordinary in a wound, reach out to your veterinarian immediately.”

The NWS’s presence in Texas first emerged when an infected cow was discovered earlier this year in Zavala County, as reported by Breitbart Texas’s Randy Clark. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has alerted that all mammals, including pets, livestock, wildlife, and, in rare situations, even humans and birds, are at risk.

In February, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller cautioned members of the San Jacinto County Republicans about the imminent threat from the NWS spreading from Mexico.

“We have swarms of screwworm flies just 187 miles south of the Rio Grande, and it’s winter,” Miller explained to the crowd. “There shouldn’t be any active flies right now, but this winter has been fairly mild. If they’re out and about in winter, just imagine what it’ll be like come spring or early summer.”

“This situation will have an impact on everyone in some way,” Miller mentioned in an exclusive interview with Breitbart Texas. “Livestock, wildlife, pets—everyone should be prepared.”

Recently, the USDA reported that two areas in Texas have been cleared of the NWS infestation. These zones, located in La Salle and Webb counties in Zone 2, as well as parts of Gillespie, Kerr, and Kimble counties in Zone 3, marked the first successful clearance since the infestation began in June.

Dudley Hoskins, the USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, remarked on this achievement in the fight against the NWS, stating, “The Texas Animal Health Commission has been an incredible partner in our response to the New World screwworm. Their vigilance and dedication to protecting both livestock and wildlife have been crucial to our collective success.”

Currently, there have been 48 confirmed NWS cases in Texas, in addition to one in New Mexico, according to reports from The Guardian. The New Mexico case was identified in a dog, as indicated by the USDA.

“We urge all horse owners to contribute to the protection of their horses and the wider equine community by maintaining good wound care practices, implementing fly control measures, and upholding biosecurity,” U.S. Equestrian Federation officials advised. “Inspections should be done daily, wounds must be kept clean and covered as per veterinarian instructions, use fly control products recommended by veterinarians, and restrict fly access through physical barriers like fly masks, sheets, and appropriate stable cleanliness.”