If you’ve caught the headlines lately, you may have seen a name making an unwelcome comeback in Texas: the New World screwworm. It’s a parasite our state hadn’t seen in nearly 60 years, and right here in our own backyard, the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team has been deployed to help fight it.
We know words like “parasite” and “outbreak” can be alarming, especially for those of us who love our four-legged family members. So let’s walk through what’s actually happening, what it means for your pets, and the simple daily habit that can keep them safe.
First, what is the New World screwworm?
The New World screwworm (its scientific name is Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly. What makes it so dangerous isn’t the adult fly itself but its larvae. The female fly lays her eggs in open wounds, sores, or other moist openings on a living animal. When those eggs hatch, the maggots burrow into living flesh, which can enlarge the wound, invite secondary infection, and become fatal if it isn’t treated.
Here’s an important distinction: ordinary maggots you might see feed on dead or dying tissue. Screwworm larvae feed on healthy, living tissue, which is exactly why early detection matters so much. The flies themselves are a little larger than a common housefly, with reddish-orange eyes and a metallic green or blue-green back.
The pest primarily affects livestock, but it can also infest pets, wildlife, and in rare cases, people. Texas successfully eradicated it back in 1966, and it’s been kept at bay ever since through a clever sterile-fly program. The current situation is the result of the parasite slowly working its way north out of Central America and through Mexico over the past couple of years.
What’s happening in Texas right now
The first U.S. detection in nearly six decades was confirmed on June 3, 2026, in a three-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, with larvae found in the animal’s umbilical area. From there, additional cases have been confirmed.
As of late June, federal officials have reported 16 total cases across two states: 15 in Texas and one in New Mexico. That single New Mexico case is especially relevant to pet owners, because it was found in a dog in Lea County, New Mexico. Early reports suggested that dog had recently been in Mexico.
In response, a quarantined “Infested Zone” has been established across parts of several Texas counties in the Hill Country and South Texas, including Zavala, Uvalde, Val Verde, Kerr, Gillespie, Kimble, Sutton, Edwards, La Salle, and Webb. Within these zones, warm-blooded animals can’t be moved out without prior authorization and an inspection from the Texas Animal Health Commission.
To put the scale in perspective: Mexico has reported more than 29,000 cases since late 2024. The aggressive U.S. response is aimed at stopping anything close to that from taking hold here.
Why Texas A&M is at the heart of the response
This part should give Brazos Valley pet owners some real reassurance. The Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team — based right here in College Station and known as the largest, most sophisticated team of its kind in the country — was deployed to the Hill Country on June 13. Twelve faculty and staff members went first, with additional veterinarians, technicians, and veterinary students rotating in as the response continues.
Their job on the ground is to support the Texas Animal Health Commission with animal inspections, treatments, and sample collection inside and around the infested zones. As VET director Dr. Deb Zoran put it, this is an unusual kind of disaster — not a hurricane you can see coming, but a pest the team is fully prepared to help the state confront.
The USDA is also running sterile-fly dispersal operations, releasing tens of millions of sterilized flies each week. Over time, this breaks the breeding cycle and is the same proven strategy that wiped the pest out the first time. One thing officials want everyone to understand: because the sterile-fly method prevents future generations rather than killing existing larvae, new cases may still appear for a while even as the program works. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
A note on travel with your dog
If you’ve been planning a trip to Mexico with your pup, here’s a relevant update. When the outbreak was first confirmed, the USDA temporarily halted the export of dogs and several other species to Mexico. By mid-June, the agency reversed course, and pet dogs are once again permitted to travel to Mexico under previously established procedures. Rules in a fast-moving situation like this can change quickly, so it’s always worth confirming the latest requirements with the USDA and your veterinarian before you travel.
What this means for your pet — and the one habit to start today
We want to be clear and not alarmist: the confirmed cases so far have been concentrated in the Hill Country and South Texas, not in the Bryan/College Station area. But because this is an active, evolving situation in our state, a little vigilance goes a long way. The single most effective thing you can do is check your pet daily.
When you’re giving your dog or cat their daily love and attention, take a moment to look them over, paying special attention to:
- Any open wound, cut, scrape, or sore — even small ones. Screwworm flies are drawn to broken skin. Recent surgical sites, like a spay/neuter incision, and even areas like the navel on very young animals deserve a look.
- Excessive licking, scratching, biting, or fussing at one spot. Animals often fixate on an area that’s bothering them.
- A wound that seems to be getting bigger rather than healing, especially one with a foul odor or unusual discharge.
- Visible larvae or maggots in a wound. This is the clearest red flag.
- Behavior changes like low energy, loss of appetite, or general discomfort paired with any of the above.
What to do if you’re concerned
If you spot maggots in a wound, or anything that looks suspicious, contact your veterinarian right away — don’t wait. Early treatment makes an enormous difference in outcome. New World screwworm is also a reportable condition in Texas, so your vet or the Texas Animal Health Commission can guide proper sample collection and reporting.
There’s encouraging news on the treatment front, too. In June, the FDA authorized the first generic over-the-counter medication to treat screwworm infestation (myiasis) in dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens, alongside several other newly authorized options. The veterinary toolkit for protecting pets is growing quickly.
A few simple prevention steps
- Keep any wounds, surgical sites, or skin irritations clean, treated, and monitored until they fully heal.
- Stay current on routine vet care, and ask your veterinarian about appropriate parasite-prevention products for your pet and your area.
- Be extra watchful with very young, very old, or recently injured animals, who are more vulnerable.
- Make the daily once-over part of your routine. It’s the best early-warning system you have.
The bottom line
The New World screwworm is a serious pest, but Texas has beaten it before, and the response this time has been fast and coordinated, with our own Texas A&M experts helping lead the charge. For the vast majority of BCS pet owners, the right move is simple awareness: love on your pets, look them over each day, keep wounds clean, and call your vet if something seems off.
We’ll keep an eye on this and share updates as the situation develops. As always, your veterinarian is your best resource for guidance specific to your animals.
Source: Texas A&M Stories — “Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team deploys to Hill Country for New World screwworm response,” June 15, 2026. Case counts and travel-guidance details reflect USDA, Texas Animal Health Commission, and news reporting current as of June 22–24, 2026. This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice.
