Texas declares disaster as New World screwworm outbreak prompts Canada livestock ban

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed a second case of the New World screwworm, a flesh‑eating parasite, in a calf in southern Texas, just 5.5 miles from the first detection. Governor Greg Abbott responded by issuing a statewide disaster declaration and establishing a 12‑mile quarantine zone requiring inspection of all warm‑blooded animals before they leave the area.

Canada’s Food Inspection Agency imposed a temporary ban on any livestock that had been in Texas within the previous 21 days, halting the flow of cattle, horses and other animals across the border. Officials warned that while the parasite is unlikely to survive Canada’s colder climate, the ban aims to prevent any possible introduction.

The screwworm, eradicated in the United States in 1966, can cause fatal infestations in cattle, wildlife, pets and even humans. USDA plans to release millions of sterile flies to curb the outbreak, a strategy previously used to suppress the pest. A 2022 USDA study estimated that a resurgence in Texas could cost the state’s economy up to $1.8 billion.