Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says she will make what she calls the “biggest announcement to date” in the fight against New World Screwworm this week in Texas.
The flesh-eating pest has been advancing North from Central America, prompting repeated closures of U.S. livestock imports from Mexico. Texas recently revived the use of swormlure bait, a 1970s-era control method.
The USDA shut down the border again last month after detecting the pest’s spread, just days after partially opening it. Rollins says the U.S. is working more closely than ever with Mexico on eradication efforts.
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South Texas ranchers and vets warn that labor pressures will make monitoring for New World screwworm difficult across large cattle operations.
Officials say the FDA-approved generic drug kills most screwworm larvae within hours of administration. The medication is available in two dosage strengths and is administered based on an animal’s weight.
Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the distribution of a comprehensive memorandum on Friday in Fort Worth, at RFD-TV’s Rural Town Hall presented by the Western Caucus Foundation.
The special presentation by RFD-TV and the Western Caucus Foundation will feature keynote remarks by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
