Five prong plan is working to fend off NWS, officials say 

A U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary said a five-prong plan to attack the New World screwworm is used every day.  

Undersecretary Dudley Hoskins, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Associate Administrator Michael Schmoyer and Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director Dr. Bud Dinges hosted a call about the pest on June 2. Also on the call was USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. 

“We use that five prong plan as our battle plan every single day in our fight against the screwworm, while we are working around the clock to keep this parasitic pest out of the United States,” Hoskins said. “I want to be clear about what the screw worm is not. A screw worm is not contagious, it does not spread directly from animals to people or from person to person, and the screwworm does not pose a food safety risk. It spreads only when a screwworm fly lays eggs in a wound, not through (consumption of) meat, poultry or dairy products.” 

He said NWS is a serious concern for USDA, state partners, producers and because of the potential disruption of the U.S. livestock industry if there was a detection not quickly identified and treated.  

With the confirmation of the pest within the 25-mile detection in Coahuila, Rollins immediately deployed an APHIS strike team to South Texas,” he said. “That team is on the ground now as part of our unified incident management team with Texas Animal Health Commission and additional assets.” 

Hoskins said they will continue to “calibrate our footprint and our work in Texas to reflect the latest situation report and what the facts on the ground are telling us.” 

Schmoyer reiterated NWS isn’t in the U.S., and the goat in Mexico was detected on May 30, according to Mexican officials. 

“While we’ve seen an increase recently in the number of cases within 100 miles of the U.S. border, all those cases right now are within the 100 miles of the border are within the sterile fly dispersal area,” he said. 

USDA officials in Mexico work closely with the Mexican equivalent to USDA, many Mexican agricultural partners and others to gather additional epidemiological data as cases come in. 

“In addition, if there was a detection in the United States, USDA will take immediate action to contain and eradicate the pest,” he said. “We would follow the strategies and actions that were outlined in the new world screw worm playbook that the secretary mentioned. That playbook outlines eight key activities that help animal health officials and responders plan, adapt, and act across all of the phases of an outbreak, from preparedness all the way to eradication.” 

Schmoyer said the process works. 

“It allows us to identify and maintain resource requirements and be able to respond very, very quickly,” he said.  

TAHC update 

Dinges appreciates the partnership with the secretary, undersecretary and Schmoyer and the rest of the USDA-APHIS team. 

“I would like to remind everyone that this is not an infectious disease piece; this is an ectoparasite,” Dinges said. “We’ve dealt with the cattle fever tick in the state for over 100 years, and we understand how to deal with this sector with an active parasite.” 

TAHC understands the importance of movement controls, inspections, and treatments to prevent the spread of NWS throughout the nation.  

“For two full years, the Texas Health Commission staff have been developing New World screwworm specific plans, coordinating response and outreach, and training staff to respond to this threat,” he said, adding it was ready to respond. 

TAHC works with partners at all levels of government across all sectors of animal agriculture, with veterinarians, animal owners and others to ensure preparedness. 

“Efforts are methodically efficient and coordinated, and our response is ready to go if called upon tomorrow,” Dinges said.  

He believes the efforts in Mexico by USDA and the Mexican Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development and SENASICA, which acts as the equivalent to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, have delayed the arrival to the U.S. 

TAHC and its partners continue to provide education and training for agency personnel, members of the public, veterinarians, and stakeholders across the state and nation to continue these efforts and put into action existing plans as the situation evolves in Mexico, he said. TAHC is increasing personnel in South Texas to bolster NWS outreach and provide additional awareness and resources to locals. 

Dinges is encouraged by the fact that 58,000 suspicious flies have been submitted for official identification, and none have been determined to be NWS. 

“It remains possible that NWS will never reach Texas; however, given the expanding New World screwworm fly population in Mexico and the severe threat it poses to Texas livestock, livestock, and wildlife industries, we now must prepare and act as if it will,” he said.  

Dinges said it’s important for all animal owners, especially those along the border of Texas, to observe and monitor, watching closely for wounds and suspicious larvae. 

Dinges said if an animal is suspected of having NWS, and in Texas notify TAHC or their local veterinarian immediately. 

“Quick notification leads to quick detection and quick response to stop this pest from spreading,” he said. “Animal owners should treat and cover any wounds as soon as possible. That is what the fly is attracted to.” 

“Having an existing veterinary client patient relationship will be essential if your animal does have an infestation, or just to advise prevention methods,” he said. “So, get in contact with a veterinarian now. Infestations from this pest can be prevented. Stay vigilant and stay aware.” 

Dinges said from government agencies to government agencies to individual animal owners to veterinarians to the great agriculture industries of Texas and beyond—“(it) is going to take all of us to prevent the spread of New World screwworm.” 

Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].