CROCKETT COUNTY, Texas — Confirmed cases of New World screwworm in the United States rose to 27 as of Sunday, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the latest detections recorded in Crockett and Jim Hogg counties in Texas.
The USDA dashboard shows 20 active domestic cases and seven inactive cases. All 27 confirmed cases involve domestic animals, with cattle and sheep among the affected species. No wildlife or feral animal cases have been reported.
The latest confirmed case, recorded June 27 in Crockett County, involved cattle. A June 26 case in Jim Hogg County also involved cattle. Multiple sheep cases were confirmed June 24, also in Crockett County.
On June 26, the USDA reported a single-day jump from 20 to 25 confirmed cases, one of the largest increases since the outbreak began June 3.
RELATED | USDA opens facility producing millions of sterile flies following rise in screwworm cases
Federal and state officials are escalating their response. The USDA announced Saturday that a new 22,000-square-foot sterile fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico, is now operational. The department called the opening “a major milestone in the fight against New World screwworm.” When fully operational, the facility will add 100 million sterile flies to suppression efforts.
New World screwworm is the larva of a parasitic fly that feeds on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.
Texas and federal officials are also funding additional livestock inspectors, strengthening border surveillance and expanding community outreach.