Cattle are grazed in a barn on June 5, 2026 in Dublin, Texas.
Brandon Bell | fake images
The United States Department of Agriculture confirmed a second case of New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, in Texas.
The latest detection was found in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, about 5.6 miles from the first confirmed case announced earlier this month, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Friday. So far, additional samples collected from the surrounding area have tested negative.
New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, creating serious wounds that can be fatal if left untreated. The pest threatens livestock, wildlife, pets and, rarely, humans.
The discovery has sparked cross-border restrictions. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Friday it will temporarily restrict imports of livestock, including horses, from affected areas of the U.S. Animals that originated in or were present in Texas within 21 days before crossing the border will not be allowed entry into Canada.
Federal and state officials emphasized that the second case was detected within an existing movement control zone established after the initial discovery and remains within an area where sterile insects are being released to suppress the pest 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 undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, said in a statement.
The USDA said the U.S. food supply remains safe despite the detections. According to the agency, New World screwworms do not infest meat, fruits, vegetables or other food products. Any affected animals will be identified during inspection and no contaminated products will be allowed into the trade, he said.
“Livestock owners and all Texans must remain vigilant,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said in a statement. “Surveillance and reporting are a priority. The faster an infestation is detected, the faster the New World screwworm can be eradicated.”
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
