Commissioner Miller Sounds Alarm as New World Screwworm Moves Closer to Texas
Summary
Commissioner Sid Miller of the Texas Department of Agriculture has issued a public alert warning that New World Screwworm has been confirmed approximately 60 miles from the US border. The pest poses a significant threat to livestock and warm-blooded animals. The alert is intended to inform stakeholders and the public about the proximity of the threat to Texas.
What changed
The Texas Department of Agriculture has published an alert from Commissioner Sid Miller regarding the detection of New World Screwworm approximately 60 miles from the US border. New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly that infest warm-blooded animals, including livestock, and can cause significant economic losses and animal health impacts.
Texas livestock producers and animal owners should be aware of the increased pest pressure near the border and monitor their animals for signs of infestation. While this is an informational alert rather than a binding regulatory action, the proximity of the pest to Texas heightens the need for vigilance and early reporting of suspicious symptoms to state agricultural authorities.
Archived snapshot
Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Commissioner Sid Miller - Bot ❒ Commissioner Miller Sounds Alarm as New World Screwworm Moves Closer to Texas > Texas Department of Agriculture Website > News & Events
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Commissioner Miller Sounds Alarm as New World Screwworm Moves Closer to Texas (4/20/2026)
AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today responded to USDA reports of New World screwworm in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, approximately 62 miles from the Texas border. The following statement may be attributed to Commissioner Miller: “The threat of the New World screwworm is creeping dangerously close to our border. A confirmed case in Nuevo León, just about 60 miles from the United States, in a young calf is a flashing red warning sign we will not ignore. This is now the northernmost active case in Mexico, and that puts Texas squarely in the crosshairs. The fact that this detection falls within the current sterile fly dispersal zone tells you just how real and active this fight already is. USDA has been working with Mexican authorities to track and respond, and those efforts matter, but this is no time to let up. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: when it comes to protecting our livestock industry we must go on offense. That means ramping up surveillance, tightening coordination at the border, and making absolutely certain every available resource is deployed to stop this dangerous pest. Our ranchers feed this country and fuel the Texas economy. They deserve vigilance, urgency, and action. We’ve beaten the New World screwworm before, and we will beat it again, but only if we treat this threat with the seriousness it demands right now.” For more information on New World screwworm detection, prevention, and reporting protocols, visit Screwworm.gov.
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Commissioner Miller Sounds Alarm as New World Screwworm Moves Closer to Texas (4/20/2026)
AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today responded to USDA reports of New World screwworm in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, approximately 62 miles from the Texas border. The following statement may be attributed to Commissioner Miller: “The threat of the New World screwworm is creeping dangerously close to our border. A confirmed case in Nuevo León, just about 60 miles from the United States, in a young calf is a flashing red warning sign we will not ignore. This is now the northernmost active case in Mexico, and that puts Texas squarely in the crosshairs. The fact that this detection falls within the current sterile fly dispersal zone tells you just how real and active this fight already is. USDA has been working with Mexican authorities to track and respond, and those efforts matter, but this is no time to let up. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: when it comes to protecting our livestock industry we must go on offense. That means ramping up surveillance, tightening coordination at the border, and making absolutely certain every available resource is deployed to stop this dangerous pest. Our ranchers feed this country and fuel the Texas economy. They deserve vigilance, urgency, and action. We’ve beaten the New World screwworm before, and we will beat it again, but only if we treat this threat with the seriousness it demands right now.” For more information on New World screwworm detection, prevention, and reporting protocols, visit Screwworm.gov.
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