Gov. Abbott Declares Disaster To Stop Screwworm Fly Threat At Southern Border

Governor Greg Abbott isn’t waiting for a crisis to land on Texas soil he’s declaring one preemptively. On Thursday, the Texas governor issued a statewide disaster declaration to halt the northward advance of the New World screwworm fly, a devastating parasite currently spreading from Mexico toward the U.S. border.

The move empowers Texas to fully activate all available state resources in an aggressive, coordinated campaign to stop the fly’s potential invasion. The stakes are high: if the parasite crosses into Texas, it could inflict massive damage on the state’s $16 billion livestock industry, wildlife populations, and even pose a rare but serious threat to humans.

“Although the New World screwworm fly is not yet present in Texas or the U.S., its northward spread from Mexico poses a serious threat,” Abbott said. “I will not wait for such harm to reach our livestock and wildlife.”

The screwworm fly’s larvae burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing painful, deadly infestations. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the parasite can affect cattle, deer, pets, and even people, making it not only an economic and ecological threat but a national security concern.

To combat the danger, Abbott has activated the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team, a joint task force made up of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Animal Health Commission. Their mission: detect, contain, and eliminate any potential outbreaks before they happen.

This isn’t just a state-level response. Abbott also highlighted a new $750 million partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to build a domestic sterile screwworm fly production facility near Edinburg, Texas. This proven method involves releasing sterile male flies to collapse wild populations through failed reproduction cycles — a strategy that eradicated the pest from the U.S. decades ago.

But now, the threat is back. And as the parasite creeps north, Texas finds itself once again on the front lines both geographically and economically.

Key facts about the New World screwworm fly:

• Female flies lay eggs in open wounds of living animals.

• Larvae burrow into tissue, causing extreme damage and death if untreated.

• The parasite was eradicated from the U.S. in 1982 but outbreaks in Latin America remain persistent.

• In 2016, a reintroduction in Florida killed over 130 endangered Key deer.

Agriculture officials warn that just one outbreak could spread rapidly, crippling herds, killing wildlife, and costing ranchers millions. The current spread toward Texas is a worst-case scenario one Abbott intends to prevent with full-force mobilization.

This proactive approach stands in stark contrast to the typical wait-and-see model favored by many state governments. Abbott is choosing prevention over reaction, a move that many in the agriculture and wildlife sectors applaud.

As the Biden administration continues to fumble basic border security and react slowly to national threats, Texas once again proves why leadership at the state level matters. In this case, the threat isn’t just illegal crossings it’s a silent invader capable of undermining the very foundation of American food production.

With the declaration in place and a strategy to fight back, Texas is showing the nation how to confront threats head-on before they become catastrophes.

Share this story and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on agriculture, security, and border-state leadership.