![\"Screenshot](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/98b1329dd105459230f001493a411149.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\nThe United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed a total of 12 cases of New World screwworm in the United States, in an outbreak which threatens the cattle industry and risks adding pressure to beef prices that are already at a record-high.<\/p>\n
Residents, ranchers, veterinarians and wildlife managers have been urged to report any suspected cases immediately. Officials are moving to ensure rapid detection and containment of the flesh-eating parasite.<\/p>\n
In a press release issued by the FDA on June 11, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said that the government is \u201cmaintaining an aggressive approach to stop the spread and eradicate this pest.\u201d<\/p>\n
With a dozen cases now having been confirmed, a government map shows the infested zones in the Texas, which are concentrated in central and southwest areas of the state.<\/p>\n
Map Shows \u2018Infested Zones,\u2019 In Texas<\/p>\n
Screenshot of Texas Parks and Wildlife map shows the infected Screwworm zones in Texas.<\/p>\n
The map shows that the zones are located outside of San Antonio.<\/p>\n
The United States Department of Agriculture lists the confirmed cases on their website, and the counties these occurred in.<\/p>\n
The counties impacted so far, are Edwards, Gillespie, La Salle, Sutton, Tom Green and Zavala.<\/p>\n
In Texas, the impacted animal species are sheep, cattle and goats.<\/p>\n
There are also infested zones in New Mexico.<\/p>\n
![\"Map](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/7ae00603c8f2d79a44fe1ca3848bff8a.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Map from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows impacted areas in New Mexico and Texas.<\/p>\n
One case has been reported in New Mexico, in Lea County. In that case, a dog has been impacted.<\/p>\n
What Is New World Screwworm?<\/p>\n
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that New World screwworm <\/a>is a fly that lays eggs in open wounds on animals or their body openings, for example, eyes, nose, mouth or genitals.<\/p>\n The eggs then hatch into parasitic maggots which eat the animals\u2019 living tissue.<\/p>\n While New World screwworm primarily affects livestock, wildlife and pets, it is possible for humans to be infected.<\/p>\n When a case involves humans, it occurs in a similar way to when a case involves an animal.<\/p>\n The parasite can enter through a break in the skin, and openings like a person\u2019s eyes, genitals, ears, nose, mouth and anorectal area,\u00a0the CDC says.<\/p>\n How The Government Has Responded<\/p>\n The government has responded to the increased case count <\/a>quickly with a number of measures in a bid to manage the situation.<\/p>\n Texas<\/a>\u00a0Governor\u00a0Greg Abbott<\/a>\u00a0has ordered an \u201cescalated response,\u201d activating the State Emergency Operations Center at Level II, mobilizing all available state resources as officials move to contain the\u00a0parasitic pest<\/a>.<\/p>\n That move directs the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to coordinate a multiagency response,\u00a0which will in turn bring together animal health,\u00a0agriculture<\/a>\u00a0and public health officials to prevent further spread.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency authorization for nitenpyram tablets, which will make it the first generic animal drug cleared to treat infestations caused by the deadly New World screwworm.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I signed the initial emergency declaration back in August 2025, we established a proactive defense. Today\u2019s authorization is the latest tactical tool in that ongoing containment strategy\u2014providing an affordable, fast-acting treatment for dogs and cats in affected areas,\u201d Kennedy said.<\/p>\n Beyond the organizational response from lawmakers, there has also been clashes over who is to blame for the cases.<\/p>\n Republicans have pointed to the border policies of former President Joe Biden. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins\u00a0said that\u00a0\u201cnot much had been done\u201d to prevent another screwworm outbreak under the previous administration.<\/p>\n Rollins said the parasites\u2019 movement from Central America into Mexico and then the United States occurred during Biden\u2019s presidency. This has been echoed by other GOP lawmakers, including Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, who told Newsmax \u201cThis is another thing we can thank Joe Biden for.\u201d<\/p>\n