Four more screwworm cases IDed; still none in Medina Co.

The 12 confirmed cases of the New World screwworm (NWS) in Texas as of last Wednesday, June 17, have now increased to 16, according to recent identified infestations, by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The four recent cases prompted Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Executive Director Lewis R. Dinges, DVM, to declare animal movement restrictions in counties or portions of the counties determined to be infested with NWS.

Following identification of  NWS June 20 in a sheep in Crockett County, Dr. Dinges designated areas of Crockett, Schleicher and Sutton counties as Infested Zone 07 and imposed a quarantine on the infested zone.

On June 21, due to detections of NWS in two bovines in Edwards County, the TAHC executive director modified the June 12 order for Infested Zone 04.A (Edwards, Sutton  and Val Verde counties) and replaced it with this order for Infested Zone 04.B.

To protect the health of animals in Texas, reduce the spread of NWS to non-intested animals and prevent NWS from establishing in new areas, the executive director imposed a quarantine in Infested Zone 04.B.

Due to the detection of NWS in a goat in Terrell County, the TAHC Executive Director designated areas of Pecos and Terrell counties as Infested Zone 08 and imposed a quarantine on the infested zone.

All the executive orders are effectively immediately and remain in effect until released by TAHC.