ASPCA commits up to $500,000 to help shelters fight New World screwworm

The ASPCA announced that it is making up to $500,000 in emergency funding available through a new Direct Support Grant to help animal shelters prevent and treat New World screwworm (NWS) infestations in dogs, cats, and equines.¹ The program responds to the parasite's return to the US for the first time since it was declared eradicated in 1966.

Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, lays its eggs in open wounds; unlike most fly larvae, the hatched maggots burrow into living tissue rather than feeding on dead flesh. NWS has been moving north through Central America and Mexico since 2023, and the first US case in more than half a century was confirmed in a calf in Zavala County, Texas, on June 3, 2026.²

How the grant works

Shelters and rescues in USDA-designated infested zones, or adjacent states, can apply for funding in 3 categories: up to $45,000 for prevention and treatment medication such as long-acting parasiticides, up to $5,000 for a supervising veterinarian's oversight costs, and up to $750 per animal for veterinary assessment, evaluation, and treatment. Applicants must have a contractual or employer relationship with a veterinarian of record. Funding is distributed on a rolling basis, with applications open now through October 31, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.¹

"While only a small number of New World screwworm cases have been detected in companion animals in the United States, expanding access to effective parasiticides in shelters and rescues is a simple, high-impact strategy to both prevent and treat infestations to avoid a larger outbreak across the country," said Stephanie Janeczko, DVM, MS, DABVP, senior vice president of veterinary medicine at the ASPCA.¹ "At a time when so many shelters are struggling to meet the needs of the animals in their care, it's critical that we work together to stop the spread, and we hope this grant funding will enable organizations in confirmed outbreak areas to expand their prevention and treatment efforts to protect shelter cats, dogs, and equines."

Eligibility is limited to organizations with an existing veterinarian of record, not individual pet owners, so shelter- and rescue-affiliated practices in or near the infested zones are the intended point of contact. Application details are available at aspcapro.org/nwsgrant.

References

1. ASPCA launches Direct Support Grant to assist with New World Screwworm outbreak. News release. ASPCA. August 19, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://www.aspca.org/about-us/press-releases/aspca-launches-direct-support-grant-assist-new-world-screwworm-outbreak
2. USDA confirms presence of New World Screwworm in the United States. News release. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. June 3, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states