06/09/2026
PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCEMENT:
"USDA Confirms First Case of New World Screwworm in a Dog in Lea County, New Mexico, Fourth Case in Texas
*The New Mexico case was previously errorneously reported in Andrews County, Texas"
🪱What is screwworm?
From the CDC: "New World screwworm (NWS) is a fly that lays its eggs in open wounds and body openings such as the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, or ge****ls."
🐄🦌🐶🙍Why is this a big deal?
From the USDA: "NWS is a serious pest that threatens livestock, pets, wildlife, and, in rare cases, people. The larvae burrow into the living tissue of animals, causing severe wounds, animal suffering, and significant economic losses."
🗣️ What do I do?
USDA urges everyone in the area to check animals for:
1. Draining or enlarging wounds
2. Maggots or egg masses
3. Signs of discomfort
4. Lesions in body openings (nose, ears, genitalia, umbilical area)
5. For pets, risk at this time is considered low unless travel to Mexico or near the border. Still, monitoring outdoor pets for open wounds, providing fly control, and using flea/tick preventatives such as Nexgard and Credelio which are on the FDA's list of effective drugs for the larval stages. We expect Bravecto to also have effectiveness as it is in the same drug class.
Anyone who suspects a screwworm infestation should immediately contact their veterinarian, state animal health official, or USDA. USDA has established this contact page to ensure everyone can easily find the correct contact information for these groups. In Texas, report suspected cases in livestock directly to TAHC officials by finding your closest area office here.
https://www.tahc.texas.gov/agency/contact.html
Though rare in people, anyone who notices a suspicious lesion should seek immediate medical care.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm/report-suspected-cases-screwworm