Gov. Greg Abbott has activated the Texas State Emergency Operations Center, further escalating the state’s response to the New World screwworm threat as it continues to grow in Texas.
Two additional cases of New World screwworm (NWS) were confirmed in Texas – a calf in La Salle County and a goat in Gillespie County by the United States Department of Agriculture on Monday, June 8.
This brings the total number of cases in the U.S. and Texas to four, prompting Abbott to direct the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate the state’s operations center to a Level 2 escalated response to help combat the screwworm.
“The protection of our ranchers, livestock producers, deer breeders, and the Texas economy from this pest is a top priority,” Abbott said in a statement. “We have eradicated this pest before, and we will do it again in close cooperation with our federal partners. Texans should stay alert, check animals daily for wounds, and report any suspected cases immediately.”
At the direction of the governor, TDEM requested that representatives from the following member agencies and partners of the Texas Emergency Management Council report to the state’s operation center:
The governor’s office also asked all Texans to report any suspected New World screwworm cases in livestock to the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242 and report suspected wildlife cases to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at 512-389-4505.
The activation of the operation center comes days after the governor issued a disaster declaration for Zavala and Uvalde counties in South Texas on Friday, June 5, which deployed all available state resources to respond to the disaster and reassigned other state resources as needed.
Individuals can access the latest updates and resources online at tahc.texas.gov, tpwd.texas.gov and screwworm.gov.
How the New World screwworm spreads, infects animals
According to the USDA, the New World screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly that impacts livestock, pets, wildlife, and, less commonly, people and birds. The fly’s larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.
USDA reports that the current risk to animals and people in the United States remains very low and that NWS is not contagious.
Rather, screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on a wound or body opening. The eggs hatch intolarvae that burrow into the wound and feed on living tissue, then after about 7 days of feeding, larvae drop to theground, burrow into the soil, and pupate.
The adult screwworm fly emerges from the soil after 7 to 54 days.
How to identify New World screwworm
Adult NWS flies have orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body and three dark stripes across the back, according to the USDA.
The telltale signs of a screwworm infection are the growing wounds or lesions and the presence of feeding maggots on still-alive animals. Some other species of maggot can be found on live animals, said Dr. Jennifer Bloodgood, assistant professor of practice and wildlife veterinarian at Cornell University, but the difference is what they’re eating. NWS feeds on healthy, living flesh, while most other maggot species feed on dead tissue.
It can be difficult to discern the difference, especially with wild animals you cannot observe closely. Because of this, public health officials encourage the public to report any suspected cases.
Where New World screwworm cases are in US, Texas
Mateo Rosiles is the Texas Connect reporter for USA TODAY and its regional papers in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him at mrosiles@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Abbott activates Texas emergency response amid growing screwworm cases
Reporting by Mateo Rosiles, USA TODAY NETWORK / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mateo Rosiles, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
