Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praised federal agencies for issuing an Emergency Use Authorization for a wound spray designed to help prevent New World screwworm infestations in livestock and wildlife.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorized CLiK Extra, a dicyclanil topical suspension, for use in multiple animal species. Miller described the authorization as an important step toward protecting American agriculture from the damaging pest.
Miller thanked President Donald Trump, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the FDA and other federal officials for moving quickly on the authorization.
“This authorization gives ranchers, veterinarians, and livestock owners another valuable tool” to protect animals from New World screwworm, Miller said.
According to Miller, the treatment can help protect cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine and wildlife from the effects of screwworm infestations.
New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae can infest wounds on living animals. The infestation can cause serious injuries and, in severe cases, death, creating a significant threat to livestock and wildlife populations.
Miller emphasized, however, that the emergency authorization should not be viewed as a replacement for efforts to eradicate the pest.
“But let’s not confuse treatment with eradication,” Miller said, arguing that eliminating the fly itself remains necessary to permanently control the threat.
The commissioner called for an aggressive eradication campaign and specifically promoted the SWASS strategy, which he has previously advocated as part of the response to the spread of New World screwworm.
Miller said the newly authorized treatment should instead be viewed as another tool for producers and animal-health professionals working to protect animals while broader eradication efforts continue.
“Every new weapon we can put in the hands of those on the front lines strengthens our ability to defend American agriculture,” Miller said.
The authorization comes as concerns over New World screwworm have increased because of the pest’s potential impact on livestock production. Producers rely on preventive measures and rapid treatment to reduce the risk of infestations, while eradication programs are aimed at stopping the fly from establishing and spreading.
Miller urged federal officials to pair the newly authorized treatment with a comprehensive strategy focused on eliminating the pest.
He also credited Kennedy, the FDA, HHS and federal partners for taking what he called an important step in addressing the threat.
The commissioner said Texas livestock producers need a response that goes beyond managing individual cases and instead focuses on preventing the screwworm from becoming established in the United States.
Miller concluded that the federal government should pursue an aggressive eradication strategy designed to push the pest back across the border and prevent its return.
The emergency authorization therefore gives livestock owners another option for protecting animals, while Miller continues to call for expanded measures aimed at eliminating New World screwworm rather than simply treating its effects.
