Governor Greg Abbott has issued a statewide disaster declaration in Texas to help prevent the spread of the New World screwworm fly, a parasite that threatens livestock and wildlife. The declaration aims to give the Texas New World Screwworm (NWS) Response Team access to all necessary state resources for prevention and response efforts.
“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,” Governor Abbott said. “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. With this statewide disaster declaration, the Texas NWS Response Team can fully utilize all state government prevention and response resources to prevent the re-emergence of this destructive parasite. Texas is prepared to fully eradicate this pest if need be.”
The governor’s office has outlined several measures already taken against this potential threat. These include directing both the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to set up a joint response team focused on monitoring and responding to any sign of NWS presence in the state.
Additionally, Abbott announced collaboration with federal agencies by partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as well as Secretary Brooke Rollins. This partnership will establish a $750 million Domestic Sterile NWS Production Facility in Edinburg, Texas, which will play a role in preventing an outbreak through sterile insect techniques.
The new initiatives are intended as preemptive actions since there have been no detections of the New World screwworm fly in either Texas or elsewhere in the United States so far.
