AUSTIN, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Texas Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm, as concerns grow over the pest’s movement north from Mexico toward the southern border. While New World screwworm has not been confirmed in Texas, state officials say the potential threat to the livestock industry remains serious.
Homeland Security, USDA, Interior, and the CDC recently held a simulation focused on how an outbreak could spread among livestock, wildlife, and humans.Officials stress the fly has not been found in Texas, but its spread in Mexico poses a serious risk.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to discuss the declaration and provide an update on response efforts across the state, as well as what the emergency declaration means for research.
In his interview with RFD NEWS, Miller provided an update on the Texas Department of Agriculture’s response, including the deployment of surveillance traps along the southern border to monitor for any potential detections. He said, while the New World screwworm has not been detected in Texas, Gov. Abbot’s action reflects an urgency that matches the severity of the risk and outlined what the declaration entails.
Miller also discussed recent extreme winter weather and cold temperatures across Texas and much of the country, and whether those conditions could help slow the pest’s spread. However, he emphasized that producers should still remain on alert.
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