US Agriculture Dept. on high alert as dangerous screwworm parasite reappears in Texas

Texas is facing a renewed threat from the New World screwworm, a dangerous parasite that attacks living animal tissue. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed a second case of infestation in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County. This latest discovery is particularly concerning as it occurred only 10 kilometers from the ranch where the first case was identified earlier in the week.

Experts warn that an uncontrolled spread of the screwworm could devastate cattle herds and disrupt food supply chains. The parasite, naturally found in South America, has been moving northward since 2023. In response to this growing threat, the USDA has initiated immediate containment efforts. These include deploying mobile response units in Texas and releasing millions of sterile flies weekly, both from the air and the ground, to interrupt the parasite's reproductive cycle.

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The situation is dangerous, because the screwworm destroys the living tissue of infected animals, and its uncontrolled expansion threatens to decimate herds and paralyze food supply chains.

Dudley Hoskins, the deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, assured the public of the services' readiness and emphasized that the second case was detected within an established quarantine zone. While other samples from the surrounding area have tested negative, authorities are treating the situation with the highest priority. Strict restrictions on animal movement have also been imposed.

The potential economic impact on Texas, the leading cattle-producing state in the U.S., could be catastrophic. "The Hill" reported that unchecked screwworm invasions could lead to annual economic losses of up to $1.8 billion for the state's economy. Border crossings for live animal trade were closed last July as a preventative measure against the parasite's northward expansion.

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We are fully prepared. The second case since 1966 was detected within the designated quarantine zone.