Explore

Samples from Texas calves tested for possible screwworm, rattling markets

Samples from Texas calves tested for possible screwworm, rattling markets

By Cassandra Garrison, Heather Schlitz and Tom Polansek CHICAGO/MEXICO CITY, June 3 (Reuters) - Samples of an unconfirmed infestation of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite on a cattle ranch in La Pryor, Texas, have been sent to a federal government lab in Iowa to be tested, Texas Representative Don

USDA Reports Suspected Screwworm Case in South Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry

USDA Reports Suspected Screwworm Case in South Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a suspected case of New World screwworm in South Texas, a development that could significantly impact the state's $15 billion cattle industry. The USDA is currently testing a sample at its National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Iowa. This announcement follows a statement by Secretary Brooke Rollins, who refuted claims by state Rep. Don McLaughlin that the screwworm was near the U.S.-Mexico border. The screwworm, a parasitic fly, poses a threat to livestock by embedding larvae in open wounds, potentially causing severe harm or death. The pest was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s but has re-emerged in Central America and Mexico. The USDA has been proactive, shutting down the southern border to live animal imports and collaborating with Mexico and Panama to control the pest using sterile fly methods.

USDA and Texas Officials Take Action Against Screwworm Infestation in Texas

USDA and Texas Officials Take Action Against Screwworm Infestation in Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm in a calf in Zavala County, Texas. The USDA and Texas officials are taking immediate action to contain and eradicate the pest, including establishing a 20 km infested zone around the detection site and enforcing quarantines, movement controls, and surveillance in the area. The screwworm, known for its larvae that eat living tissue, poses a threat to livestock and can cause significant economic losses in the agricultural sector. The USDA has invested heavily in tools to eliminate the screwworm, which has been detected in Central America and Mexico.

USDA Confirms Screwworm Fly Detection in Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry

USDA Confirms Screwworm Fly Detection in Texas, Threatening Cattle Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the presence of the New World screwworm fly in south Texas, marking the first detection in decades. This parasite, known for its flesh-eating larvae, poses a significant threat to the cattle industry. The case was identified in a 3-week-old calf in LaPryor, Texas, near the Mexico border. In response, Texas State Veterinarian Bud Dinges has established a 12-mile quarantine zone to prevent the movement of warm-blooded animals, including pets, without inspection. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that while the larvae threaten livestock, they do not infest food, and the infested calf is expected to recover with proper treatment. The USDA has been proactive in preventing the fly's spread, employing methods such as releasing sterile flies to mate with wild females, a strategy that previously led to the fly's eradication in the 1970s.

A screwworm fly that bedeviled cattle ranchers decades ago has returned to Texas

A screwworm fly that bedeviled cattle ranchers decades ago has returned to Texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the New World screwworm fly has arrived in south Texas

Screwworm fly detected in Texas decades after cattle threat was largely eradicated in US

Screwworm fly detected in Texas decades after cattle threat was largely eradicated in US

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the New World screwworm fly has arrived in south Texas

USDA Investigates Suspected Screwworm Case in South Texas, Potential Threat to Livestock Industry

USDA Investigates Suspected Screwworm Case in South Texas, Potential Threat to Livestock Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a suspected case of New World screwworm in South Texas, which could be the first confirmed case in the United States. The screwworm, a parasitic fly, poses a significant threat to the livestock industry, particularly cattle, by embedding larvae in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. This infestation can lead to severe wounds or death. The USDA is currently testing samples from two calves in La Pryor, Texas, at its National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Iowa. The agency has activated personnel on the ground and is collaborating with local partners to address the situation. Historically, screwworm was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s but has re-emerged in Central America and Mexico in recent years.

USDA Confirms Flesh-Eating Screwworm in Texas Calf, Initiates Eradication Measures

USDA Confirms Flesh-Eating Screwworm in Texas Calf, Initiates Eradication Measures

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the presence of a flesh-eating New World screwworm in a three-week-old calf located in Zavala County, Texas. The USDA is taking immediate action to eradicate the parasitic fly by establishing a 12-mile 'infested zone' around the detection site, implementing quarantines, increasing traps for screwworms along the border, and setting up an Incident Command Team with the Texas Animal Health Commission. The screwworm, typically found in South America and parts of the Caribbean, has been detected farther north in Central America and Mexico over the last three years. The USDA has invested heavily in tools to eliminate the screwworm, which can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including humans in rare cases.

USDA Opens New Livestock Insect Research Lab to Combat Pest Threats

USDA Opens New Livestock Insect Research Lab to Combat Pest Threats

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has inaugurated the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility aimed at bolstering the cattle industry's defenses against invasive pests such as flies and ticks. This new laboratory, located in Kerrville, Texas, spans 52,000 square feet and is equipped with advanced research spaces, cattle facilities, and a genomics center. The facility is designed to enhance the study of insect behavior, improve pest control techniques, and develop new insecticides and pesticide delivery systems. The lab will also focus on reducing pest resistance, thereby supporting the health and productivity of American livestock. The USDA emphasizes the importance of this facility in continuing efforts to protect livestock from threats like the New World Screwworm, a pest previously eradicated from the U.S. using the Sterile Insect Technique.

USDA investigates first possible US New World screwworm case in Texas

USDA investigates first possible US New World screwworm case in Texas

The USDA says a suspected case of New World screwworm has been detected in South Texas — a day after officials said no cases had reached the U.S.

New World screwworm threat continues as USDA, Texas tries to stop it

New World screwworm threat continues as USDA, Texas tries to stop it

A flesh-eating fly has been detected 25 miles from the Texas-Mexico border — the closest New World screwworm case to the U.S. since the 1960s.

USDA Opens New Research Lab to Combat Livestock Pests, Strengthening U.S. Cattle Industry

USDA Opens New Research Lab to Combat Livestock Pests, Strengthening U.S. Cattle Industry

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has inaugurated the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to enhance pest control efforts for the U.S. cattle industry by developing advanced tools to manage invasive pests such as flies and ticks. The laboratory, covering 52,000 square feet, includes research spaces, cattle facilities, and a genomics center. It aims to study insect behavior, improve pest control techniques, and identify vulnerabilities in harmful species. The lab will also focus on developing new insecticides and better pesticide delivery systems. The USDA emphasizes the importance of protecting livestock from threats like the New World Screwworm, a pest previously eradicated in the U.S. using the Sterile Insect Technique. The new lab will continue this work with modern tools, supporting the cattle industry's safety and productivity.