LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Florida has placed new import restrictions on warm-blooded animals coming from six South Texas counties because of the growing New World screwworm threat near the U.S.-Mexico border. The move adds another layer of pressure as livestock producers already deal with tighter cattle movement and broader biosecurity concerns.
The emergency rule applies to animals originating from Brooks, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, and Zapata counties. Florida said the counties fall within 125 miles of recent New World screwworm detections in Mexico, triggering extra import requirements.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Florida’s action is understandable and reflects how serious the threat has become. He said the extended halt in cattle movement from Mexico is already straining supply chains, cutting into Texas meatpacking capacity, and pushing prices higher for consumers.
Florida officials said New World screwworm can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, and in rare cases people, usually through open wounds. If untreated, the larvae can cause severe damage and may be fatal.
Miller said USDA’s sterile-fly work is important, but more suppression tools will be needed in the near term. For now, producers in South Texas face another reminder that the screwworm threat is no longer just a border issue.
