EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORDER DECLARING ANIMAL MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS DUE TO NEWWORLD SCREWWORM IN UVALDE AND ZAVALA COUNTIES
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ORDER DECLARING ANIMAL MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS DUE TO NEWWORLD SCREWWORM IN UVALDE AND ZAVALA COUNTIES New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly that poses a serious threat to livestock, exotic livestock, fowl, and exotic fowl in Texas. NWS flies lay eggs in wounds or soft tissues of live warm-blooded animals; the larvae hatch and burrow into living tissue, leading to the painful condition NWS myiasis. As the infestation worsens and the wounds become larger, it can cause serious injury, secondary infection, and can be fatal if not treated. NWS is recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as a foreign animal disease that has poses a threat to U.S. agriculture, wildlife, public health, and the economy. On January 29, 2026, Governor Greg Abbott issued a statewide disaster proclam...