Governor Abbott Issues Statewide Disaster Declaration Amid Looming Screwworm Threat to Livestock Industry

SAN ANGELO, TX – On January 29, 2026, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster declaration aimed at preventing the potential infestation of the New World screwworm (NWS) fly, a parasitic pest that poses a significant risk to the state's livestock industry and wildlife populations. The move comes as reports indicate the screwworm's northward progression from Mexico, with recent outbreaks confirmed in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, just across the border from Texas.

The New World screwworm, scientifically known as *Cochliomyia hominivorax*, is a flesh-eating fly whose larvae burrow into the wounds of warm-blooded animals, including cattle, deer, and even humans in rare cases. Eradicated from the United States in the 1960s through a successful sterile insect technique program, the pest has reemerged in Central America and Mexico, leading to over 148,000 animal cases and more than 1,190 human infections, including seven fatalities, as of January 20, 2026. In Mexico alone, officials have reported 601 active animal cases and 24 human hospitalizations.

"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 stated in the declaration. "State law authorizes me to act to prevent a threat of infestation that could cause severe damage to Texas property, and I will not wait for such harm to reach our livestock and wildlife."

The disaster declaration empowers the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team—established in June 2025 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)—to access all necessary state resources for prevention and rapid response. This includes enhanced surveillance, quarantine measures, and potential deployment of sterile flies to combat any incursion. Texas is also collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a $750 million sterile fly production facility in Edinburg, Texas, announced in August 2025, to bolster national defenses against the pest.

The threat has put South Texas producers on high alert, with experts warning that an infestation could devastate the state's $50 billion livestock sector, which supports over 248,000 ranches and more than 2 million jobs. Recent reports from Tamaulipas include eight active animal cases, heightening concerns for border regions like the Rio Grande Valley. Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has previously described the screwworm's advance as "inevitable," urging livestock and pet owners to prepare.

The declaration has garnered support from agricultural organizations. The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), a 148-year-old group representing over 28,000 members, applauded Abbott's proactive stance. TSCRA President Carl Ray Polk Jr. stated, "Gov. Abbott understands the importance of protecting the U.S. beef supply and it's clear he is committed to pushing New World screwworm back to the Darién Gap." Polk emphasized the declaration's role in enabling TAHC and TPWD to combat the pest effectively.

Social media reactions from Texas users highlight the urgency, with posts from accounts like @GovAbbottPress and @bradj_TX detailing the declaration and its implications for agriculture. Calls for transparency in funding the response efforts have also emerged, with concerns about oversight for the Edinburg facility.

State officials stress that while the risk remains low, vigilance is key. Livestock owners are advised to monitor animals for wounds, report suspicious infestations to TAHC at 1-800-550-8242, and follow USDA guidelines for prevention. Abbott's office reiterated Texas' readiness: "Texas is prepared to fully eradicate this pest if need be."

Texas' commitment to safeguarding its agricultural backbone against emerging threats brought about this preemptive action and it is drawing on lessons from past eradications to prevent a costly resurgence.