Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is warning producers to be on high alert following confirmation of the northern-most New World screwworm detection in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, only 90 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border:
“The New World screwworm is not some distant problem. It is a direct and imminent threat to Texas, and we are treating it that way,” he said. “This is a high-stakes situation for our ranchers, our livestock industry, and our food supply, and we are moving aggressively to stay ahead of it.”
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has taken steps to respond, the reality, Miller says, is that the spread of the New World screwworm has not been successfully contained to date.
“That is a serious concern, and it underscores exactly why Texas must be proactive in dealing with this threat. We are fully engaged and prepared to escalate every available tool to ensure this threat is stopped,” he said.