06/11/2026
This is real and happening in Texas right now; please read the information below.
⚠️🪰 New World Screwworm (NWS) has been confirmed in South Texas for the first time in decades and Arkansas producers and animal owners need to be aware.
NWS is a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into the flesh of warm-blooded animals. It can affect livestock, pets, and wildlife. The good news: there are NO confirmed cases in Arkansas at this time, and NWS is both preventable and treatable.
✅ Here's what to watch for: wounds that aren't healing, foul-smelling discharge, tissue damage, or visible maggots in or around a wound. Animals may also appear lethargic, refuse to eat, or show signs of pain. Symptoms can progress quickly, so check animals more frequently than usual.
A few things producers can do now:
🐄 Dip navels in iodine solution on newborns
🩹 Treat all wounds promptly
🪰 Work with your vet to establish a fly control program
📋 Postpone elective procedures like castration, dehorning, and branding until cooler months when NWS flies are less active
If you suspect NWS, isolate the animal immediately and do not move it off the premises. Contact the Arkansas Department of Agriculture at 501-225-1598 or [email protected].
Visit our NWS resource page for the latest updates:
🔗 uaex.uada.edu/screwworm
Arkansas Extension Small Ruminants Arkansas Extension Beef Systems
