Texas – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is praising the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) for expanding New World screwworm sterile fly dispersal operations farther north along the Texas-Mexico border.
According to state officials, the expanded dispersal zone now reaches as far north as Maverick County near Eagle Pass. The move is intended to strengthen the biological barrier against the New World screwworm, a parasite that feeds on living tissue in animals and can cause severe injury or death if left untreated.
Commissioner Miller called the expansion a critical step in protecting Texas livestock, wildlife, pets, and the agricultural economy. He warned that the parasite poses a serious threat if it were to re-enter the United States and emphasized the importance of early detection and prevention efforts.
Miller said cases in Mexico have been moving closer to the U.S. border and stressed the need for continued monitoring. He urged ranchers, veterinarians, hunters, and pet owners to watch for signs such as unusual wounds, maggots, or abnormal fly activity, and to report concerns immediately.
Officials said the sterile fly program is part of long-running efforts to prevent the re-establishment of the parasite in the United States through biological control methods.
Miller added that Texas agriculture remains a key part of the national food supply and said the state will continue working to defend against the threat.
