Texas Gov Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration over screwworm threat
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration Thursday to prevent the potential spread of the New World screwworm fly to the Lone Star State as he seeks to better protect livestock and wildlife.
The governor’s proclamation allows the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team to use all state government prevention and response resources to prevent the parasite from spreading into Texas.
New World screwworm fly is spreading north from Mexico to the border it shares with the United States
A CASE OF MEAT-EATING PARASITES WAS DETECTED IN US TRAVELERS RETURNING FROM CENTRAL AMERICA
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration to prevent the potential spread of the New World screwworm fly to the Lone Star State. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the United States, its northward spread from Mexico to the U.S. southern border poses a serious threat to Texas’ livestock industry and wildlife,” Abbott said in a statement. he said.
“State law gives me the authority to take action to prevent the threat of an infestation that could cause serious damage to Texas property, and I will not wait for such damage to reach our animals and wildlife,” he continued.
In his statewide disaster declaration, the governor said the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team “can fully utilize all state government prevention and response resources to prevent the reemergence of this devastating parasite.”
New World screwworm fly is spreading north from Mexico to the border it shares with the United States (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
The governor said Texas officials are ready to completely eradicate the pest if necessary.
Abbott took preemptive action against the New World screwworm threat by directing the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission to establish a joint Texas New World Screwworm Response Team.
The governor also highlighted a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a new $750 million domestic sterile New World Screwworm production facility near Edinburg, Texas.
USDA Announces $750 Million Sterile Fly Breeding Program to Protect Cattle from Mexican Flesh-Eating Maggots
The governor highlighted a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a new $750 million domestic sterile New World Screwworm production facility near Edinburg, Texas. (David Ake/Getty Images)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
The Department of Agriculture said in August that the New World screwworm is a “devastating pest.”
“When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a live animal, they cause serious, often fatal, harm to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds and, in rare cases, humans. This is not only a threat to our farming community, but also a threat to our food supply and national security,” the department said at the time.
