Gov Abbott issues disaster declaration to prevent screwworm fly infestation from spreading into Texas

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration on Thursday to prevent the potential spread of the New World screwworm fly into the Lone Star State, as he seeks to better protect livestock and wildlife.

The governor's declaration allows the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team to use all state government prevention and response resources to prevent the spread of the parasite into Texas.

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"Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the U.S., its northward spread from Mexico toward the U.S. southern border poses a serious threat to Texas' livestock industry and wildlife," Abbott said in a statement.

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The governor also highlighted a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to create a new $750 million domestic sterile New World Screwworm production facility near Edinburg, Texas.

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"When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often deadly damage to the animal. NWS can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, occasionally birds and, in rare cases, people. It is not only a threat to our ranching community, but it is a threat to our food supply and our national security," the department said at the time.

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This is something that scares the **** out of me. Not only due to the ecological destruction it can, and likely will cause, but also because of the further economic pressure it will have on beef prices while they're already very elevated.

Given some other headwinds in the feed input costs, this could cause some quick rises in demand and prices for pork and poultry as well.

Has the potential to devastate the white tail deer herd as well.

The outbreak started in the very early 50's and peaked in 1957. The flies were able to be used in and around 1958 or so and worked relatively quickly.
The one good thing is that we are much more ahead of the curve now than in the early 50's of how to combat it.
That should be a positive going into it.

Absolutely, Gunny. I'm on a 28 day Dectomax injectable regimen now and that is currently thought to prevent infection. That's great for cattle , or maybe livestock in general.
This still leaves any other animal susceptible. Now guv fills free choice feeders with ivermectin corn all year except during regular whitetail season which may help the wildlife that partake, but these feeders are inside a feed pen so some other wildlife does not have access.
I'm about 70 miles east of Sabinas where last case was discovered on a steer brought up from Chiapas, Mx. I'm hoping that they are WWII level carpet bombing Mexico about now. I've heard that there could be some airspace that's no go in cartel areas. What better to get back at US than assisting this fly migrating north.