06/09/2026
Today, 6/8/26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the first case of New World Screwworm (NWS) in a goat in Gillespie County. State agencies including Texas Animal Health Commission, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas Department of State Health Services are leading the statewide response.
As pet and livestock owners in Gillespie County, it is important to stay vigilant. We encourage you to:
👀🔎 Inspect your pets/livestock daily for any new wounds or cuts that could attract screwworm larvae. Treat and cover any wounds or cuts on all animals, including outdoor pets.
🚫🪰 Increase fly-control efforts at your home and on your property.
📞📷 Report suspicious wounds or signs of larvae immediately. Do not move a suspicious animal. For pets/livestock: Contact your veterinarian or call TAHC directly at 1-800-550-8242. For wildlife: Contact TPWD at 512-389-4505.
Early detection, treatment and reporting are crucial for your animal's health and an effective response.
Follow the pages tagged above for more information on the status and signs of NWS.
Additional resources:
Commons myths & misconceptions:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-myth-busters.pdf
USDA screwworm information website: screwworm.gov
TAHC screwworm information website: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/nws.html
Text 'screwworm' to 38276 to receive up-to-date information for Gillespie County from Fredericksburg/Gillespie County Emergency Management.
🚨 With the recent detection of New World screwworm in a 3-week-old bovine in Zavala County, TX, USDA urges residents to contact your veterinarian right away if you see any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations in your animals or herd.
If you see signs of maggot infestations in live or very recently dead wild animals, especially in areas near the U.S./Mexico border, please call 866-4USDA-WS (866-487-3297) to report it to your local USDA Wildlife Services office.
For more information, visit WWW.SCREWWORM.GOV.
