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It’s been nearly a week since news of the New World screwworm officially made its way to the Rio Grande Valley, prompting local officials to address their handling of the flesh-eating parasite’s arrival to the region.
Starr County confirmed its first case of screwworm Sunday, July 19. Larvae was found present in a baby calf.
Local, state and federal agencies have made continuing efforts to prevent the parasitic fly from reaching the nation, including sterile fly disbursement, surveillance, and restricting animal transportation. However, the pest has made its way into South Texas nonetheless, and county leaders are responding to the development.
When asked if neighboring Hidalgo County has taken any specific actions since the confirmation of screwworm in Starr County, county Judge Richard F. Cortez said “the answer is no.”
“We just continue with the same strategy that we are doing,” he said.
That strategy consists of coordination with state and federal agencies spearheading the screwworm outbreak, including the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as well as local veterinarians.
Additionally, they’ve published educational resources at www.hidalgocounty.us/NWS as well as the county’s social media pages.
Cortez says the county doesn’t have any additional plans for the coming days or weeks, aside from the daily communication with the aforementioned agencies and neighboring county leaders.
“We are trying to disseminate the best information we can,” he said.
Further south, Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño says since the Valley screwworm confirmation, the county has “elevated its level of vigilance.” They also remain in communication with state and federal agencies and local partners. Moving forward, their primary focus will be public education and outreach.
They encourage ranchers, livestock producers, veterinarians, and pet owners to routinely
inspect their animals, properly care for wounds, and immediately report any suspected cases to the TAHC.
“At this stage, education and early detection are our strongest tools,” Treviño said. “Prompt reporting and rapid response are essential to containing any potential spread before it becomes a larger issue.”
According to Cortez, the responsibility of responding to the screwworm threat is “really a state matter.”
However, as they continue to focus on community awareness, Hidalgo County’s Emergency Management Department puts together daily screwworm reports, containing updates on confirmed cases, surveillance findings, animal movement restrictions, biosecurity recommendations and public education materials.
Treviño says Cameron County doesn’t have any concerns regarding personnel or resource capacity at this time, and their focus is on ensuring those necessary resources remain available should screwworm be detected within county lines. At this stage, their greatest challenge is public awareness.
Cameron and Hidalgo county leadership stress how critical it is that ranchers, livestock producers, veterinarians, and pet owners understand how to recognize the signs of infestation, know who to contact, and follow any recommended containment measures if a case is suspected or confirmed.
“Preparedness and rapid reporting remain our best defense against wider spread,” Treviño said.
However, he did identify one area of support that would prove beneficial to the county and broader Valley — the continued expansion of sterile fly production and deployment capacity.
“… (H)aving greater quantities available sooner would strengthen our overall preparedness and provide an additional layer of protection should NWS continue moving south and into Cameron County,” he said.
On the ground, local shelters are also preparing for the potential spread.
While no changes have officially been made at Palm Valley Animal Shelter, the confirmation of screwworm in the Valley makes the need for adoption more urgent. The staff is currently in the process of consolidating its resources as they close their Trenton location and move operations into their Lauren P. Andrews facility. In the process, they will be losing a number of kennels.
“We know the screwworm situation is like right next door to us,” said Jarod Munoz, the shelter’s communication director. “We are still moving full speed ahead as far as getting our animals out of here.”
Rescue flights — transporting animals to rescues to curb shelter overflow — are still slated to happen on schedule thus far. Their next one will take off on July 31.
Munoz emphasizes the best way the public can support the shelter during this difficult time is by adopting and fostering. When a screwworm case is confirmed within the county, all transport flights from the shelter will cease, Munoz says.
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