Federal health officials have sprung into action following the detection of the New World screwworm, a destructive parasite capable of devastating livestock, pets, and wildlife, in animals across southern Texas and a county in New Mexico.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has activated a Level 3 emergency response — the lowest tier in the agency’s emergency response framework — to coordinate with agricultural authorities and contain the threat before it can spread further.
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A Level 3 response is the lowest tier in the CDC’s emergency response framework, the agency said in a statement.
Federal health officials are working alongside the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state authorities to contain the outbreak.
The declaration is an example of the Trump administration’s whole-of-government approach, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Thursday.
“The CDC is just one more step in the right direction that allows us to deploy more resources at the federal level,” Rollins told reporters in Texas.
The USDA is tracking confirmed animal infestations through a public dashboard as officials monitor the spread of the pest.
This latest development comes as the Trump administration continues its aggressive push to safeguard America’s critical agricultural sector, which employs millions and forms the backbone of rural economies across the heartland.
New World screwworm primarily threatens livestock, pets, and wildlife. The parasite develops when screwworm flies lay eggs in open wounds or body openings, allowing larvae to feed on living tissue.
While human infections are possible, no cases have been reported in the United States, and federal officials continue to assess the risk to the public as low.
Health officials emphasized that New World screwworm is not contagious and cannot spread directly between animals, from animals to humans, or from person to person.
Instead, infections occur only through exposure to screwworm flies in affected areas, noted the CDC.
The Trump administration has been preparing for the threat for more than a year.
In 2025, the USDA launched an aggressive strategy to prevent the parasite from reestablishing itself in the United States, said the agency.
The effort is being coordinated through an interagency working group led by the USDA, CDC, and Department of the Interior as part of a broader One Health initiative that recognizes the connection between human, animal, and environmental health.
Officials noted that the United States successfully eradicated New World screwworm decades ago and expressed confidence that the parasite can be eliminated again through coordinated surveillance and response efforts.
The CDC is urging healthcare providers in affected areas to remain alert for possible human cases and report any suspected infestations to state or local health authorities.
“New World screwworm (NWS) is a serious pest of livestock and wildlife,” the USDA noted on its website.
“USDA is leading a coordinated One Health response to combat NWS. This is not a food safety issue—the U.S. food supply remains safe,” the agency noted further.
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“The current risk to animals and people in the United States is very low,” it said.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has been on the front lines, briefing stakeholders from Texas and holding press conferences to assure ranchers and the public that the administration is treating this as a national security priority.
Ranchers in South Texas, where cattle production is a multi-billion-dollar industry, are expressing cautious optimism amid the response.
“This could hit us hard if it spreads, but we’re seeing the feds moving fast,” one Texas cattle producer told local affiliates.
Economic analyses suggest that unchecked spread could lead to significant losses from reduced weight gain in livestock, treatment costs, and potential trade restrictions from international partners like Canada, which has already imposed some barriers on Texas animals.
The parasite’s larvae can cause severe tissue damage if they infest open wounds, making prompt veterinary and medical vigilance essential.
The FDA has even issued emergency use authorizations for treatments in companion animals to support pet owners.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state agriculture officials have partnered closely with federal counterparts, launching inspector training programs and alert systems through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
