Texas Releases New World Screwworm Infested Zone

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has released a New World screwworm (NWS) infested zone in Texas, with concurrence from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This action comes after State and Federal subject matter experts confirmed that the area met requirements outlined in APHIS' New World Screwworm Response Playbook for zone release.

The zone being released is:

• Infested Zone 10

Releasing infested zones removes NWS-related movement requirements for livestock and pets within certain areas. All interstate movement requirements and international export requirements will still apply.

Several infested zones in Texas remain in place, and APHIS continues to work closely with TAHC to evaluate conditions for future zone releases. All Texas animal owners should visit the TAHC website to ensure they have the latest information about the location of infested zones, movement requirements, and zone-specific requirements.

APHIS and TAHC remain committed to supporting continuity of business for producers and will continue applying science-based surveillance, early detection, and rapid response measures to ensure that areas are released as soon as the criteria have been met.

For more information about NWS and updated response activities, please visit screwworm.gov and the TAHC New World Screwworm resource page.