U.S. confirms second Texas screwworm case
Cattle graze in a barn on June 5, 2026 in Dublin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the second case of the New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, in Texas.
The latest detection was in a month-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, about 6 miles from the first confirmed case announced earlier this month, according to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. said friday. Additional samples collected from the environment have tested negative so far.
New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals and cause severe wounds that can be fatal if left untreated. The pest threatens livestock, wildlife, pets and, in rare cases, humans.
The discovery triggered cross-border restrictions. Canadian Food Inspection Agency said friday It will temporarily restrict imports of live animals, including horses, from affected areas of the United States. Animals that originate from or have been in Texas within 21 days before crossing the border will not be allowed into Canada.
Federal and state officials emphasized that the second case was detected in an existing movement control zone created after the initial discovery and remained in an area where vicious insects were released to suppress the pest’s population.
“USDA has wasted no time in this fight; we have defeated the New World screwworm before and we will do it again,” Dudley Hoskins, the agency’s Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, said in a statement.
Despite the findings, the USDA said the U.S. food supply remains safe. New World screwworms do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables or other food products, according to the agency. It was stated that any affected animal would be identified during inspection and no contaminated product would be allowed into commerce.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
