Overview
- Federal officials confirmed the U.S. total reached 19 confirmed animal cases, with three new cattle cases reported in Terrell County on June 23 that raised the Texas count to 18.
- The Texas Animal Health Commission has expanded infested zones to cover parts of 16 counties and the state activated its emergency operations center to enforce movement controls and inspections.
- Authorities are releasing millions of sterile male screwworm flies to interrupt breeding because females mate once, but current control is constrained by limited production from a Panama facility while new plants in Mexico and Texas are under construction.
- Veterinarians stress the parasite poses low direct risk to public health and the food supply because infestations start when flies lay eggs in wounds and do not spread animal to animal, yet untreated animals can die and farms face heavy economic losses.
- The pest reentered the hemisphere after breaching the Darién Gap in 2022 and Mexico has reported large outbreaks, so officials warn new cases may appear over several 21‑day life cycles and say rapid detection, treatment and scaled sterile‑fly output are key to stopping establishment.