The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed two new cases of the New World screwworm in Texas, including one in a dog.
“A veterinarian in Andrews County submitted the samples from the infested dog. Details on this case will be shared as they are available, but early reports indicate the dog was recently in Mexico,” according to the news release.
Officials say epidemiological investigations are underway for both cases.
The announcement follows two other cases of New World screwworm reported in Texas last week, both in Zavala County in South Texas. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue after females lay eggs in wounds or body openings, causing severe injury or even death.
On Friday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration related to the screwworm threat, pushing for an acceleration of moving sterile flies into the state to protect against an invasion. Abbott and other officials, including Democratic nominee for governor Rep. Gina Hinojosa, have warned that the New World screwworm has the potential to devastate Texas livestock.
“While we address these instances that require immediate attention, and continue to sample suspected cases, we are simultaneously working to eradicate the pest entirely,” Dudley Hoskins, under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, said in the release. “We need the partnership of animal owners across the region – please stay vigilant, check your animals closely, and report anything that looks suspicious.”