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Abbott Declares Disaster as NWS Spreads

Jennifer Carrico 6/05 9:50 PM

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed late Friday, the second case of New World screwworm (NWS) in a one-month-old calf in Texas approximately 5.6 miles away from the first confirmed infection.

This confirmation comes after testing a number of suspect cases. APHIS said the other samples have come back negative. The first case, also in Zavala County, Texas was in a three-week-old calf.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott also issued an updated statewide disaster declaration for the NWS infestation. "I've updated the statewide disaster declaration to authorize all available state resources -- including university systems like Texas A&M -- to combat the NWS," he said in a news conference. "This will accelerate the movement of sterile flies into Texas and speed up construction of the new sterile screwworm production facility in Edinburg."

Bud Dinges, Executive Director of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) reminded people at a Thursday news conference that NWS is not a food safety issue, but rather an animal production challenge. Dinges stressed the importance of all animal owners to look at their animals on a regular daily basis and report suspected cases to a veterinarian and the TAHC. Anyone with a suspected animal case should not move the animal but rather call TAHC immediately at 1-800-550-8242.

The APHIS Strike Team is at the Texas site and has deployed mobile response trailers, and sterile fly releases are underway with 2 million aerially and 4 million released on the ground per week.

Movement control zones have been activated at a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) radius around each site. Surveillance has increased and treatments are being supplied through the TAHC.

"Many models projected this pest would reach the United States last year, but thanks to USDA's phenomenal work and our cooperations with state, federal, and industry partners, we've held it off until now -- when we are far more prepared to respond," USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins said in a news release. "USDA has not wasted time in this fight, we have defeated New World screwworm before, and we will do it again."

According to USDA, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has deployed an entomologist to the USDA Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Kerrville, Texas, to expedite confirmation processes by positioning the NVSL diagnostic assets in the area.

For more information visit: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/….