Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration on January 29 in response to growing concerns about the New World Screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that poses a serious threat to livestock, wildlife, and, in rare cases, humans. The declaration follows recent reports of confirmed animal cases in Tamaulipas, Mexico, which borders Texas.
The order is intended to give the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team greater access to state resources as part of efforts to prevent the fly from entering Texas. According to the governor’s office, the goal is to “better protect livestock and wildlife” by enabling faster coordination and response should the threat escalate.
What Is the New World Screwworm?
New World screwworms infest open wounds in animals by laying eggs in exposed tissue. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae feed on living flesh, often causing severe infections, extensive tissue damage, and, if untreated, death. Livestock are particularly vulnerable, though pets can also be affected. Human cases are rare but have been documented.
The pest was largely eradicated in the United States during the 1960s through a coordinated eradication campaign. However, beginning in 2023, cases reemerged and spread across parts of Central America. The fly has since moved into Mexico, raising alarms among U.S. agricultural and public health officials.
Economic Stakes for Texas
Texas has the largest livestock industry in the country, valued at approximately $15 billion annually. Livestock production significantly outweighs all other agricultural commodities in the state. Experts warn that an established screwworm infestation could have devastating consequences for cattle producers and ripple effects throughout the broader state economy.
Abbott emphasized the urgency of preventative action in a press release, stating, “State law authorizes me to act to prevent a threat of infestation that could cause severe damage to Texas property, and I will not wait for such harm to reach our livestock and wildlife.”
He further warned, “Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the U.S., its northward spread from Mexico toward the U.S. southern border poses a serious threat to Texas' livestock industry and wildlife.”
Legal Authority Behind the Declaration
The governor cited Texas Government Code Sections 418.012 and 418.016, which allow the governor to issue and enforce emergency proclamations and to suspend certain laws or regulations if they would “prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with a disaster.” These provisions are designed to speed response efforts during imminent threats to public safety or property.
Federal and International Response Efforts
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), New World screwworms are currently present in nearly all South American countries except Chile, as well as in several Caribbean nations, including Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2025, Abbott directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission to jointly form the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team. Texas also partnered with the USDA on a $750 million project to build a Domestic Sterile Screwworm Production Facility in South Texas. The facility works by sterilizing flies through exposure to gamma radiation, a method historically proven to suppress and eliminate screwworm populations.
The governor’s declaration follows a recent USDA announcement in which U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins launched the NWS Grand Challenge. As part of that initiative, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will “make up to $100 million available” to support projects that enhance sterile fly production, improve preparedness, and protect U.S. agriculture, animal health, and trade.
Public Health Monitoring and Border Impacts
On January 29, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network advisory to notify clinicians, public health officials, and the public about recent animal cases in Tamaulipas. While no cases have been reported in Texas, officials say heightened awareness is critical for early detection.
The Mexican government announced on January 13 that, through a partnership with the USDA, active screwworm cases in Mexico have declined by 57 percent over the past month, with 492 animals currently affected.
Despite these gains, concerns remain. Last year, the USDA temporarily closed the southern U.S. border to livestock trade due to the parasite’s spread within Mexico. That shutdown remains in effect as authorities continue monitoring the situation.
Looking Ahead
State and federal officials stress that the disaster declaration is a preventative measure rather than a response to an active outbreak in Texas. With livestock markets, wildlife health, and cross-border trade all at stake, authorities say early action is critical to preventing a resurgence of a pest once thought to be eliminated from the United States.
