U.S. Confirms Second Screwworm Case in Texas as Canada Moves to Restrict Livestock Imports
CNBC reported Saturday that U.S. agriculture officials have confirmed a second New World screwworm detection in Texas, prompting Canada to move swiftly on livestock import restrictions. The case was identified in a one-month-old calf in Zavala County. It sits roughly 5.6 miles from the site of the first confirmed detection announced earlier this month.
A Parasite That Can Kill
New World screwworm is a flesh-eating parasite whose larvae burrow into the living tissue of warm-blooded animals. The wounds they create can be fatal if left untreated. Livestock, wildlife and household pets are all at risk. In rare cases, the parasite can also affect humans. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said additional samples collected near the second case have so far tested negative.
Officials were quick to reassure the public on food safety. The agency stated that New World screwworm does not contaminate meat, produce or other food products. Any animal showing signs of infestation would be caught during standard inspection processes before entering the food supply.
Canada Closes the Gate
The second detection has had immediate cross-border consequences. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced it will temporarily bar imports of livestock, including horses, from affected U.S. areas. Animals that originated in Texas, or that were present there within 21 days before crossing the border, will be turned away.
The move reflects the speed with which agricultural trading partners are responding to even a contained outbreak. Cattle markets and livestock supply chains between the two countries are deeply integrated, making the restriction commercially significant.
Background: The U.S. Has Beaten This Before
New World screwworm was eradicated from the United States decades ago through a sustained campaign using sterile insect releases. That same technique is being deployed now. Federal and state officials confirmed that the second case was discovered within an existing movement-control zone established after the initial detection, and sterile insects are already being released across the affected corridor.
USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins told CNBC the agency had not wasted time in responding, adding that the U.S. had defeated the pest before and would do so again. Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening urged livestock owners across the state to remain alert and to prioritize surveillance and rapid reporting.
What Comes Next
Authorities say the situation remains contained within the established control zone. Further testing of surrounding areas is ongoing. The USDA has not signaled any plans to widen movement restrictions beyond those already in place, though the story continues to develop as new samples are processed.
Read Next: Trump’s Tariffs Are Reshaping Global Supply Chains. Here Is What That Means for Prices
