President Donald Trump has appointed a new Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness. John Bellinger has been appointed in this role and according to USDA, “will integrate into USDA’s team to help further drive its robust effort to explore all available technologies to combat the New World Screwworm.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said, “I want to thank …
Additional Detections of New World Screwworm in Texas
Late last week, USDA APHIS announced a second detection of New World Screwworm in Zavala County approximately 5.6 miles from the first confirmed detection, and on Monday, APHIS announced two additional cases, a calf in La Salle County, Texas and a dog in Andrews County, Texas. Currently, epidemiological investigations are ongoing for both cases and according to APHIS, “early reports indicate the …
Cattle Markets Reacting To NWS Detections
It’s been interesting to watch live cattle and feeder cattle futures reaction to confirmation of a screwworm (NWS) case in Texas last week. A newborn calf in southern Texas, the first confirmed case in the U.S. since 1966. Now, on the surface, one would expect a very negative market reaction, but so far, Trader is looking at further tightening of cattle numbers, lower beef …
Agriculture Leaders Release Statements on NWS
After the recent discovery of New World Screwworm in Texas last week, several agriculture leaders have released statements sharing how they are taking action to combat this livestock industry threat. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said “We have been working in close coordination with federal, state and industry partners to prepare for the New world screwworm’s arrival in the …
USDA Takes Action Against New World Screwworm
A confirmed detection of New World Screwworm was found recently in Zavala County, Texas. In a post on X, Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, said “The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Texas Animal Health officials are taking immediate action to contain and eradicate NWS from the area.” Secretary Rollins also spoke on the measures currently being implemented to exterminate NWS, …
Current Response Actions To Address New World Screwworm
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins provided an update on the New World Screwworm response on Tuesday where she discussed what would happen if a detection were to occur in the United States. “We are preparing to implement the very moment the fly makes it into our country. If we have a domestic detection USDA and relevant state animal health …
New World Screwworm Detections Inching Closer to US-Mexico Border
New World Screwworm is inching closer to the U.S.-Mexico border with new reported detections over the past week. According to screwworm.gov, the latest detections of screwworm have been reported within 100 miles this past week, with the closest being approximately 31 miles from the border. Generally, the detections have been confirmed affecting cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and dogs, with all …
USDA Opens State-of-the-Art Livestock Insect Lab
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service has opened the Knippling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville, Texas. In a press release posted by the USDA, the goal of the facility is to “provide the U.S. cattle industry with innovative tools and advanced technologies to manage and eliminate the invasive fly and tick pests that threaten the …
FDA Approves NWS Drug for use in Dairy Cattle
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a recent Emergency Use Authorization for Dectomax CA-1for the prevention and treatment of New World Screwworm in Dairy Cattle. The authorization of Dectomax CA-1, which is sponsored by Zoetis, includes emergency use in dairy cattle including lactating dairy cows, dry dairy cows, replacement dairy heifers 20 months of age and older, but excludes …
Texas Senate Committee Hosts Panel on New World Screwworm
The Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs hosted a panel of experts during a hearing this week on New World Screwworm. Panelists for the hearing included Deputy Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins, Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director David Yoskowitz, Texas A&M University Entomology Department Head Phillip Kaufman, and Dr. TR Lansford, DVM and …









