The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) formally activated an emergency response Thursday to address the resurgence of the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly detected in U.S. cattle for the first time in decades, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed.
The Department of Agriculture is spearheading the animal-side response, monitoring cattle and livestock while deploying sterile flies to curb the pest's spread. The CDC, meanwhile, is preparing for potential human exposure, with the emergency declaration signaling an active investigation into the outbreak—similar to protocols used for small natural disasters or environmental hazards.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins framed the move as part of the Trump administration's whole-of-government strategy. “The CDC is just one more step in the right direction that allows us to deploy more resources at the federal level,” Rollins told reporters in Texas.
Human infestations remain rare, with no reported cases so far. The risk is concentrated in areas where screwworm flies are circulating, particularly for people with open wounds or those who spend time around livestock. At least six cattle and a goat in Texas, along with a dog in New Mexico, have been infested. While treatable, infestations can cause serious wounds.
The screwworm was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s but has reemerged before. The most recent outbreak occurred in Florida between 2016 and 2017, when a coordinated federal, state, and local response successfully reeradicated the flies. The parasite remains endemic in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and parts of South America.
The current outbreak has drawn political scrutiny, with Trump officials blaming the Biden administration for the resurgence. The crisis also threatens livestock and beef markets, as the screwworm outbreak spreads in Texas, raising economic stakes for the region.
In response, the FDA authorized the first generic drug for screwworm in pets, a move aimed at protecting animals in affected areas. Meanwhile, Rollins faces Senate grilling over the USDA budget and her handling of the crisis.
The CDC's emergency declaration underscores the seriousness of the threat, as officials work to prevent a repeat of the 2016-2017 Florida outbreak that required a multi-agency effort to contain.
