The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) is closely monitoring the announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the suspected detection of New World screwworms (NWS) in Texas, and the ongoing confirmatory testing is now underway at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.
USCA commends USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) for their swift response to this potential detection and for their extensive work on-the-ground to hold off the reemergence of New World screwworms through 2025 and into the first half of 2026. Their early activation of personnel in the region, close coordination with state and local partners and continued focus on prevention, early detection and rapid response have bought producers and animal health officials critical time to prepare for a situation just like this.
USCA welcomes USDA Secretary Rollins’ commitment that the Department will remain in constant communication with industry stakeholders as this situation develops. Timely, transparent updates from USDA, APHIS and TAHC are vital to ensure that cattle producers have the information they need to safeguard their herds, implement any recommended biosecurity measures and coordinate effectively with animal health officials.
USCA’s Animal Health Committee is actively engaged on this issue and is in close contact with federal and state animal health officials as the situation evolves. USCA’s priority remains the protection of animal health, the integrity of the U.S. cattle herd and the long-term viability of domestic livestock production.
Further updates will be shared with our membership as additional details are released by USDA and its partners.
