Kansas Officials Address Concerns Over New World Screwworm Detection in Texas
Kansas agriculture officials have expressed significant concern following the detection of the New World screwworm in Texas, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on June 3, 2026. The screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, poses a threat to livestock, pets, and humans by burrowing into living flesh. Although no cases have been reported in Kansas, the state's Department of Agriculture is on high alert. Kansas animal health commissioner Justin Smith stated that the state has been preparing for such a scenario for over a year and is confident in the response plan in place. The USDA is employing a sterile insect technique, previously successful in eradicating the pest from the U.S., to combat the current threat. 
