Governor Abbott, Secretary Rollins Update Texans On Screwworm Response At Kerrville Lab
Summary
Activates Texas State Emergency Operations Center To Support State Response<p>Governor Greg Abbott today joined U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and federal and state partners at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory for a briefing and update on Texas’ ongoing response to the New World screwworm threat.</p> <p>"Sterile flies are the well-established solution to the spread of the New World screwworm," said Governor Abbott. "The USDA is importing and dispersing those flies across South Texas and will recalibrate to deploy those sterile flies wherever needed. Texas is resilient. It is critical to stay vigilant and stay informed."</p> <p>The Governor and Secretary were joined by Director of the New World screwworm Directorate for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Michael Schmoyer, USDA Under Secretary Scott Hutchins, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Executive Director Dr. Lewis R. “Bud” Dinges, and other state and federal officials.</p> <p>During his remarks, Governor Abbott highlighted the coordinated state and federal effort underway to prevent the spread of the New World screwworm in Texas. USDA is deploying sterile flies across the infected areas and working to establish a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg. </p> <p>Governor Abbott continues to take action to combat the New World screwworm threat, including:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps:%25252F%25252Fgov.texas.gov%25252Fnews%25252Fpost%25252Fgovernor-abbott-directs-twpd-tahc-to-establish-texas-new-world-screwworm-response-team%252F1%252F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%252Fum-ZH2ZYxLHCFaF73ik3mOddRw7G39FCjYHw-nK3Zdc=452%2F1%2F0100019e99706b54-83d37d04-b437-47d5-bdf1-8aa51e74799d-000000%2F2Z548iSsuFWKl-k1Ofi3CI64zKiC8_c-4HZAqnd_Gs0=452/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/lVbCdPzo8qt3UIm4XczQn68MCDaHab0GkHn9om_HlVY=452" target="_blank">Directing</a> state agencies to establish the joint Texas New World screwworm Response Team, which brought together livestock producers, veterinarians, wildlife experts, and federal partners to prepare in advance.</li> <li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps:%25252F%25252Fgov.texas.gov%25252Fnews%25252Fpost%25252Fgovernor-abbott-issues-disaster-declaration-to-prevent-new-world-screwworm-fly-infestation%252F1%252F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%252FIkIEA53meENnsXztgwd9kxfsK8xRwhSfR2K2pKaFkJo=452%2F1%2F0100019e99706b54-83d37d04-b437-47d5-bdf1-8aa51e74799d-000000%2FnrcwsdU2-GzORGP3H3Zp9XSgu7HGqXbfmdaau6SvOgg=452/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/YmQm07jxsYkKm7jybT9c_h5xzF1muchfiv2qPBJgjGQ=452" target="_blank">Issuing</a> a statewide disaster declaration to mobilize resources and strengthen Texas’ prevention and response efforts before a single case was detected.</li> <li>Issuing a <a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps:%25252F%25252Fgov.texas.gov%25252Fuploads%25252Ffiles%25252Fpress%25252FDISASTER_screwworm_livestock_parasite_proc_IMAGE_06-05-2026.pdf%252F1%252F0100019e98fad437-d630d521-fded-4c8f-97e7-702eece7359a-000000%252FAvyv9OsTGTpicdrsxenMJfI53IrsQLc9n77mZpPJzYg=452%2F1%2F0100019e99706b54-83d37d04-b437-47d5-bdf1-8aa51e74799d-000000%2FY3BHNLwARoixxrZXAhRsKvDiCsOWs8emx6sKqfLrBIY=452/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/Lm-vfdrm8jvJSJWQZy1DaO0xwYfQEZr3EIAtqoWDfSM=452" title="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgov.texas.gov%2Fuploads%2Ffiles%2Fpress%2FDISASTER_screwworm_livestock_parasite_proc_IMAGE_06-05-2026.pdf/1/0100019e98fad437-d630d521-fded-4c8f-97e7-702eece7359a-000000/Avyv9OsTGTpicdrsxenMJfI53IrsQLc9n77mZp">disaster declaration </a>to deploy all available state resources to respond to this threat and prioritize resources to Uvalde and Zavala counties.</li> <li><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgov.texas.gov%2Fnews%2Fpost%2Fgovernor-abbott-activates-texas-state-emergency-operations-center-for-new-world-screwworm-response/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/vC4FVyDiXEcbUzLki2DdB94cWy8sO4zgBNC21tb3EqE=452" target="_blank">Directing</a> the Texas Division of Emergency Management to activate the Texas State Emergency Operations Center to Level II (Escalated Response) to support the state’s New World screwworm response.</li> </ul> <p>Governor Abbott urged Texans, especially ranchers and livestock owners, to remain vigilant by checking animals daily, treating wounds promptly, and taking steps to reduce fly populations. The Governor emphasized that early detection and treatment is critical to preventing the spread of New World screwworm. </p> <p>Texans are urged to report any suspected New World screwworm cases in livestock to the TAHC at 1-800-550-8242 and report suspected wildlife cases to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) at (512) 389-4505. </p> <p>Texans can access the latest updates and resources online through the TAHC (<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps:%25252F%25252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%25252FCL0%25252Fhttps:%2525252F%2525252Fwww.tahc.texas.gov%2525252F%25252F1%25252F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%25252FR8GaRnqR_A_s88M9u1FrGVRk7DGld_HWqcwK_hNm5n8=452%252F1%252F0100019e99707b80-f15670ca-9c28-43ec-960d-de73f8fea8a7-000000%252FuCYHs_ezIE0Mv_H7Vs4cRwv7HtoAeEl1J3yAYSEey4c=452%2F1%2F0100019ea78a448e-c267641f-7e0b-4ab5-a2f5-5286f8c52bf9-000000%2F0RmVTw4MPXc6hhz-Y7w8EG27eFJeuHd3T2_mMw2M4Tw=452/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/qRS-2di3j7UAxaS0Z-C7eAeS8K6m1wiB2ACyXalbJZ0=452" title="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.tahc.texas.gov%252F%2F1%2F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%2FR8GaRnqR_A_s88M9u1FrGVRk7DGld_HWqcwK_hNm5n8=452/1/0100019e99707b80">tahc.texas.gov</a>), TPWD (<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps:%25252F%25252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%25252FCL0%25252Fhttps:%2525252F%2525252Ftpwd.texas.gov%2525252F%25252F1%25252F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%25252FDvvEQ_XR_KAPM19aOIY1OtqwyU3xERusNpzpX7MOQho=452%252F1%252F0100019e99707b80-f15670ca-9c28-43ec-960d-de73f8fea8a7-000000%252Fd6s2Mh8d5tV_bNuWiYwssMxhruUpHjkMREUVt3XBoRY=452%2F1%2F0100019ea78a448e-c267641f-7e0b-4ab5-a2f5-5286f8c52bf9-000000%2FLTkN-J8lDX8mgYydWLtqApSavwwRoMl9LwLf7gbVHt0=452/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/iHTtMDBCVr1PpAIVzEWWFQS9KToL43HRLo8Jctc6nlI=452" title="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Ftpwd.texas.gov%252F%2F1%2F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%2FDvvEQ_XR_KAPM19aOIY1OtqwyU3xERusNpzpX7MOQho=452/1/0100019e99707b80-f15">tpwd.texas.gov</a>), and United States Department of Agriculture (<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps:%25252F%25252Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%25252FCL0%25252Fhttps:%2525252F%2525252Fwww.aphis.usda.gov%2525252Fanimals%2525252Fanimal-health%2525252Flivestock-and-poultry-disease%2525252Fstop-screwworm%25252F2%25252F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be92458547d-000000%25252F6hXGTCrsIcfgHuqBPuFgJjrrJKsiR6hixSu533q_E5E=452%252F1%252F0100019e99707b80-f15670ca-9c28-43ec-960d-de73f8fea8a7-000000%252F5eBYtFK1G3xbYTJriAwmczsfLMbaTUb_r6W3Z-MgZT0=452%2F1%2F0100019ea78a448e-c267641f-7e0b-4ab5-a2f5-5286f8c52bf9-000000%2FSb8sGGmR9iWd52A6RmpgLkzNUU-qu5GFxzRg8R43Y3M=452/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/MthZwK4uUQ9PdnrwX2E9Y12HGLbgX6YyBdjX9wZ2ZXY=452" title="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Flinks-1.govdelivery.com%2FCL0%2Fhttps:%252F%252Fwww.aphis.usda.gov%252Fanimals%252Fanimal-health%252Flivestock-and-poultry-disease%252Fstop-screwworm%2F2%2F0100019e946b2aae-e8c2b9f1-a8bc-4ba5-9f40-8be9245854">screwworm.gov</a>).</p> <p><a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fscl%2Ffo%2F0vnblhrwnlb9uqx7zub48%2FACfZCAPyqHoyA8pYa0dVHRQ%3Fdl=0%26e=1%26rlkey=mflufop2uzuld35phbsfnlmqr%26st=i0pcg838/1/0100019ea90b312a-16c934c5-6801-4586-970e-8d70f68701ad-000000/Sebex7ZTBOck0EbnZhMOmDFbjpn3btM6SfRvkDx66e0=452" target="_blank">Additional photos of the press conference will be provided here when available</a>.</p>