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News|Articles|June 26, 2026
New World screwworm tracker: US case count and response update for the week of July 3, 2026
Author(s)dvm360 Staff
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dvm360 is providing weekly updates on confirmed New World screwworm (NWS) detections in the United States, drawn from the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) public dashboard. Figures reflect the dashboard as of July 3, 2026; data updates daily at 6 p.m. ET.
By the numbers
- Total confirmed animal cases: 32 (all domestic)
- Active: 18 | Inactive: 14
- Wildlife/feral cases: 0 (0 active, 0 inactive)
- Fly trap detections: 0
- Most recent reported animal detection: July 3, 2026
- States affected: 2 — Texas (31 cases) and New Mexico (1 case)
- By species: cattle (17), sheep (10), goats (3), dogs (2)
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- By county: Crockett (9), Edwards (6), Terrell (4), Zavala (3), LaSalle (2), Gillespie, Sutton, TomGreen, Medina, JimHogg, Pecos, and Uvalde (1 each), plus Lea County, New Mexico (1)
- The two dog cases confirmed to date: June 7 in Lea County, New Mexico, and June 29 in Pecos County, Texas
What changed this week
- Total animal cases rose to 32, with 18 still active
- Detections have continued to expand across additional Texas counties over the past 30 days
- All confirmed cases to date are in domestic animals; no wildlife/feral cases and no wild fly trap detections have been reported
Background
- NWS (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into the living tissue of warm-blooded animals
- Causes severe, potentially fatal wounds in livestock, pets, and wildlife — and, rarely, people
- Eradicated from the US by the 1960s; first domestic detection in 60 years confirmed June 3, 2026, in a calf in Zavala County, Texas
- Reportable foreign animal disease
Response efforts
- USDA continues eradication via the sterile insect technique, with sterile-fly dispersal and joint state surveillance
For veterinarians
- FDA emergency use authorizations now cover dogs, cats, cattle, horses, and other species
- Examine livestock and pets for draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort
- Check body openings and the navel of newborn animals for larvae and eggs
- Report suspected cases immediately to a state animal health official or USDA
Source:
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