NWS Cases Spread in US        06/08 17:24

   USDA Confirms 5th NWS Case, Unveils New Tools, Names Screwworm Adviser

   The U.S. has confirmed its fifth New World screwworm case, this time in a 
Texas goat, prompting officials to accelerate sterile fly production and 
introduce new pest-fighting technologies. Public reporting of suspected cases 
is critical, as it helps authorities target sterile fly releases and prevent 
further spread.

Jennifer Carrico
DTN Senior Livestock Editor

   REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- An update from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke 
Rollins, while holding a news conference in Texas, confirmed the fifth case of 
New World screwworm (NWS). This time it was in a goat in Gillespie County.

   Texas Animal Health Commission Executive Director Bud Dinges said the newest 
case in the goat isn't completely adding up, as it is farther north. But he 
said his department has a diagnostician headed to the location to investigate.

   "We are continuing to make progress," Rollins said on Monday. "These 
developments obviously represent a serious threat to our livestock and 
wildlife, but they haven't caught us off guard. We have been tracking this pest 
for a long time, and we have fought (it) before, so we will do it again."

   Rollins said the biggest need is for more sterile flies to combat the pest. 
Earlier in 2026, a sterile NWS fly dispersal facility was opened in Edinburg, 
Texas. The sterile fly production facility at the same location on the Moore 
Air Base is expected to open later next year.

   Meanwhile, an NWS sterile fly production facility is expected to come online 
this month in Matapa, Mexico, which will produce 100 million sterile flies by 
the end of 2026. That, added to the 100 million already produced in Panama, 
will bring more flies to the fight.

   NEW TECHNOLOGY ANNOUNCED FOR FIGHT

   USDA Under Secretary of Research, Education and Economics Scott Hutchins 
announced the development of a tool to help with the NWS fight. The use of the 
sterile fly technique dates to the 1950s. The Agricultural Research Service and 
collaborators have developed a novel fly strain; they refer to as "Novo Fly."

   "It's going to allow us to almost instantaneously double the number of 
sterile flies we put in the fight because it's going to allow us to produce 
only male sterile flies," Hutchins said.

   Currently, a plant producing sterile flies generates 50% each of males and 
females, but the sterile females are not useful. By going to 100% sterile 
males, it doubles production.

   "It's going to give us a tremendous edge in that regard, but it's not all 
that we're doing," Hutchins added. "We have a number of other activities going 
on, as well. We have a very aggressive effort to discover the very specific 
attraction that the screwworm female zeros in on."

   By knowing what the fly is attracted to, the hope is to use that in traps to 
contain the female NWS flies. This is also planned to be used in newly improved 
screwworm adult suppression systems to lure the flies into insecticide and kill 
them.

   NEW NWS ADVISER ANNOUNCED

   Rollins introduced John Bellinger as the new senior adviser for New World 
screwworm preparedness. He will work specifically with the USDA team to further 
explore technologies to combat NWS and enhance the current methods.

   "I'm old enough to remember doctoring calves in the 1960s with this 
problem," Bellinger said. "New World Screwworm presents unique challenges to 
America's ranchers, and Secretary Rollins has taken dramatic steps to work on 
building up our domestic response to this pest. USDA is responding in real time 
and building up long-term capabilities to push back New World screwworm beyond 
our borders and past the Darien Gap."

   Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service 
(APHIS) associate administrator and director of the NWS Directorate, said a 
trial is being conducted to determine the efficacy of ivermectin and other 
products as a feed additive to prevent the spread of NWS, especially in 
wildlife.

   Schmoyer stressed the importance of the connection between USDA, the Texas 
Animal Health Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife to help combat the 
pest.

   "This is something that is detectable," he said. "This is something that is 
preventable. This is something that is treatable. The best thing you can do is 
put your eyes on your animals. We need you to keep working with the systems in 
Texas to let us know where those cases are."

   Schmoyer said the agencies cannot do their part to release sterile flies in 
the proper areas, trap flies and provide surveillance if the public doesn't do 
their part to report any suspected cases that are found.

   Dinges said they want animals to move safely after being inspected and 
treated, if needed, and have the proper documentation. Any animal suspected of 
having an NWS case should not be moved, and a veterinarian should provide 
immediate inspection.

   Bellenger concluded: "You know the simplicity of this is, if you don't 
report, the flies are going to proliferate. They're going to grow. If you 
report, we only have so many flies to drop. You're going to get priority on 
those flies. So, it's to your economic benefit to tell us what's going on."

   For more DTN coverage of the New World screwworm threat and the response by 
the government and livestock industry, visit our Spotlight on New World 
Screwworm page at 
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/livestock/article/2026/06/08/dtn-covera
ge-new-world-screwworm-us.

   Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

   Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal




(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.