First U.S. Horse Case of Screwworm Detected in Texas Border County
The first horse in the United States to be infected with New World screwworm has been confirmed in Presidio County, southern Texas, near the Mexican border. This detection follows months of screwworm infestations in U.S. cattle, raising concerns about controlling the pest's spread. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) website confirmed the case on Wednesday. In response, the Texas Animal Health Commission, which identified the case, issued an order prohibiting the movement of warm-blooded animals outside a designated 'infested' zone within Presidio and Jeff Davis counties. The U.S. Equestrian Federation reported that the infestation occurred in the hind limb of a working ranch horse and urged horse owners to regularly inspect their animals, practice good wound care, fly control, and biosecurity measures.
