Texas Governor Activates Emergency Center to Battle Flesh-Eating Screwworm

Cases of screwworm, a type of fly that has parasitic larvae, had not been reported in Texas since the 1960s. 

AUSTIN, TEXAS - AUGUST 15: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins during a news conference in the State Capitol on August 15, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins held a press conference discussing the recent rise of threats presented by the New World screwworm disease. Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on June 8 said he activated the state’s emergency response center after several cases of the flesh-eating New World screwworm were discovered in animals in recent days.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on June 8 confirmed two more cases—including one in a calf and another in a dog—in Texas. Later, the department said that the dog currently lives in New Mexico, while the veterinarian who reported that case is located in Texas.