USA confirms second case of screwworm in Texas
Cattle are herded into a stable on June 5, 2026 in Dublin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a second case of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, in Texas.
The latest discovery was in a 1-month-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, about 5.6 miles from the first confirmed case announced earlier this month, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Friday. Other samples from the area have so far been negative.
New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals and cause severe wounds that can be fatal if left untreated. The pest threatens livestock, wild animals, pets and, in rare cases, people.
The discovery has triggered cross-border restrictions. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Friday it will temporarily restrict imports of livestock, including horses, from affected areas of the United States. Animals that originated in Texas or have been there within 21 days of crossing the border will not be permitted entry into Canada.
Federal and state officials emphasized that the second case was discovered within an existing movement control zone established after the first discovery and remains in an area where sterile insects are released to suppress the pest’s population.
“USDA has wasted no time in this fight, we have defeated the New World screwworm before and we will do it again,” Dudley Hoskins, the agency’s undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, said in a statement.
The USDA said the U.S. food supply remains safe despite the discoveries. According to the agency, New World screwworms do not infect meat, fruits, vegetables or other foods. Each affected animal would be identified during inspection and no contaminated product would be allowed to enter the market, it said.
“Cattle owners and all Texans should remain vigilant,” Russell Boening, president of the Texas Farm Bureau, said in a statement. “Monitoring and reporting are a priority. The quicker an infestation is detected, the quicker New World screwworm can be eradicated.”
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
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