State and federal authorities are scrambling to contain an expanding outbreak of the New World screwworm after three new cases were confirmed on Monday, raising alarms over the parasite’s potential impact on Texas cattle and beef prices.
The cases include a goat in Gillespie County, a calf in La Salle County, and a dog in Lea County, New Mexico, according to officials. The parasite, which is not a virus but a fly whose larvae feed on living tissue, primarily targets livestock but can also infect pets and wildlife.
Dr. Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges, executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, said in a statement that response teams are now on the ground in affected zones. “Teams are on the ground in infested zones, conducting active animal surveillance, establishing checkpoints, connecting with landowners and producers for sterile fly release locations, conducting ground and aerial release of sterile flies, and educating animal owners and the public on the pest and how to prevent the spread,” Dinges said.
The outbreak has already triggered quarantine measures in parts of Texas and renewed debate over the adequacy of the USDA’s response. Critics argue that early warnings were missed and that coordination between state and federal agencies has been uneven.
The economic stakes are high. Texas is the nation’s largest cattle-producing state, and any disruption to herd health can quickly ripple into beef supply chains and consumer prices. Analysts warn that even localized outbreaks can depress auction prices and increase costs for ranchers forced to treat or cull infected animals.
This is not the first time the screwworm has menaced U.S. livestock. The pest was eradicated from the country in the 1960s through a pioneering sterile insect technique program, but it remains endemic in parts of Central and South America. Its reappearance has been linked to increased travel and animal movements across the U.S.-Mexico border.
Federal officials have deployed additional USDA veterinarians and sterile flies to the region, but some ranchers say the response has been too slow. “We’re seeing cases pop up faster than they can map them,” one industry source told KXAN.
The Texas Animal Health Commission has urged livestock owners to inspect animals daily for wounds and to report any suspicious larvae immediately. The commission also advises against moving animals out of quarantine zones without official clearance.
Meanwhile, the broader political context adds urgency. With inflation still squeezing household budgets, any spike in beef prices could become a campaign issue. The White House has not yet commented on the outbreak, but USDA officials say they are monitoring the situation closely and will adjust containment strategies as needed.
