Texas Governor Expands Emergency Response to New World Screwworm

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on June 8, 2026, the expansion of the state's emergency response to the New World screwworm, a parasitic fly that poses a threat to Texas's livestock industry. The emergency operations center has been activated to Level II to enhance the state's response efforts. This follows the report of the first screwworm case in La Pryor, Texas, with the USDA confirming four cases in total, all in Texas, including a calf and a dog. Abbott emphasized the importance of protecting ranchers and livestock producers, stating that all state resources will be utilized to combat the threat. The USDA is employing a sterile fly release technique to control the outbreak, but there is a shortage of sterile flies, with the production facility not expected to be completed until late 2027. Abbott is advocating for the accelerated construction of a new facility in South Texas to address this issue more promptly.