Flesh-eating Screwworm Threatens Cattle Industry Beyond Texas

WHO:

ABC7 Los Angeles - U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, University of Florida entomologist Edward Burgess, New Mexico State Veterinarian Samantha Holeck.

The Texas Tribune - Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-San Antonio), Brandon Herrera (Republican nominee), Katy Padilla Stout (Democratic nominee), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo).

WHAT:

ABC7 Los Angeles - Three new cases of the New World screwworm have been confirmed, including one outside Texas, bringing the total to five confirmed cases: three calves and a goat in Texas and a dog in New Mexico.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The USDA has set up a 12-mile (20-kilometer) quarantine zone around each confirmed case to slow the parasite's advance.

ABC7 Los Angeles - The USDA is working to build a $750 million fly factory in Texas and has been dropping sterile flies in south Texas since February.

The Texas Tribune - The 23rd Congressional District in Texas, which includes over 515,000 cattle and calves, had $450 million in cattle and calf sales in 2022.

WHERE:

ABC7 Los Angeles - Confirmed cases are located in Texas (La Salle County, Gillespie County) and New Mexico (Lea County).

The Texas Tribune - The 23rd Congressional District stretches from El Paso County to San Antonio, Texas.

WHEN:

ABC7 Los Angeles - The first two screwworm cases were discovered last week in Texas.

The Texas Tribune - Rep. Tony Gonzales resigned in April amid an ethics investigation.

The Texas Tribune - A sterile fly facility in Edinburg was announced to have broken ground in April.

WHY:

ABC7 Los Angeles - The screwworm poses a serious risk to the cattle industry, as it eats living flesh and can lead to deadly infections in animals.

The Texas Tribune - The lack of a congressional representative in the 23rd District could hamper communication and resources during the screwworm outbreak.

HOW:

ABC7 Los Angeles - The USDA's method to control the screwworm involves breeding sterile male flies and releasing them to mate with wild females, which helps to reduce the population over time.

The Texas Tribune - Candidates for the vacant congressional seat are attempting to convene ranchers and communicate with federal officials to address the screwworm threat.

(UPDATED June 9, 2026 23:25 UTC)

Three new cases of the New World screwworm have been confirmed, including one outside Texas, bringing the total to five cases involving three calves and a goat in Texas and a dog in New Mexico. In response, the USDA has established a 12-mile quarantine zone around each confirmed case and is working on a $750 million fly factory in Texas while releasing sterile flies to combat the parasite. Meanwhile, candidates for the vacant congressional seat in Texas's 23rd District are striving to connect ranchers with federal officials to address the serious threat that the screwworm poses to the cattle industry.