WASHINGTON, D.C., June 3, 2026—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm (NWS) in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. NWS is a serious pest that affects livestock, pets, wildlife, and less commonly, people and birds. NWS larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing serious damage to livestock and economic losses.
The affected animal is a 3-week-old calf and larvae were identified in its umbilical area . LINK.
According to the Texas Animal Health Commission:
"There is currently a quarantine in place due to an established New World Screwworm Infested Zone in parts of the following Texas counties: La Salle, Uvalde, Webb, Zavala.
According to the Executive Director Orders issued, all warm-blooded animals in a zone may not move out of the zone without prior authorization from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).