Veterinary Emergency Team in Texas deploys in response to NWS cases

The Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team (VET) has been deployed to the Texas Hill Country to assist the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) in its response to New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that affects livestock and other animals, including wildlife.¹

The deployment comes as TAHC continues field response and inspection operations. The initial deployment will include 12 faculty and staff members from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, with additional faculty, staff and veterinary students expected to rotate in as response operations continue. VET personnel will provide support through animal inspections, treatments, and sample collection in areas under investigation or within NWS zones as part of ongoing response efforts.¹

“The Texas A&M VET is proud to help in this time of challenge for our state,” Deb Zoran, DVM, PhD, MS, director of the VET, said in a news release.¹ “This is a unique deployment because the disaster is not as easy to see as it is when Mother Nature strikes, but our team is ready to help our state partners, livestock producers of all sizes, animal owners, and our state’s local veterinarians deal with this pest.”

A confirmed case of NWS was identified in a Texas calf on June 3, 2026, which was the first detection of this parasite in the state since northward progression from Central Texas was observed in 2023. Since then, a growing number of new cases have been identified in the US, including those in Texas and New Mexico. Dogs and goats are also among the animal species affected.¹

Following those cases, at least 10 Texas counties have implemented animal movement restrictions in what the TAHC is calling an established New World Screwworm Infested Zone, and county disaster declarations have been issued. The NWS can affect livestock, pets, wildlife, and, in rare cases, humans, making early detection and prompt veterinary attention especially important. Officials are encouraging pet owners and livestock producers to stay informed and check their animals daily.¹

In a dvm360 interview, Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), explained the earliest warning signs of NWS in animals and what clinicians should identify.² “In a lot of ways, it's going to look very similar to myiasis: you have an animal, you have maggots, you have a lesion. One of the keys, if you're catching it in an early stage, is that you do not have a debilitated animal. The animal does not need to be debilitated first. You will actually have a healthy animal with what can be something as simple as a scratch, a tick bite, even a mucous membrane opening. All of a sudden, you will have maggots beginning to eat and destroy normal tissue. If you are catching it early, you may be sitting there with a fairly healthy animal that has these large, unexpected lesions. As time goes on, it will lead to death in many cases,” Lee said.

Educational resources are available through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Animal Health Commission, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences’ recent Pet Talk and Pasture Talk articles, all of which provide practical guidance on identifying potential signs of screwworm infestation, monitoring wounds, and knowing when to seek veterinary care.¹

The VET works alongside local, state, and federal partners during animal health emergencies and disasters. The team includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians, logistics specialists, and veterinary students who provide emergency veterinary care and technical support during field deployments across Texas.¹ Deployments in recent years have included assistance during or in the aftermath of flash floods along the Guadalupe River in Texas, in 2025; Hurricane Helene in North Carolina in 2024, and Texas wildfires in 2024.^3-5

For ongoing coverage and the latest information on New World Screwworm visit dvm360’s dedicated resource center at www.dvm360.com/clinical/screwworm.

References

1. Dunn M. Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team deploys to Hill Country for New World Screwworm response. June 15, 2026. Accessed June 16, 2026. http://stories.tamu.edu/news/2026/06/15/texas-am-veterinary-emergency-team-deploys-to-hill-country-for-new-world-screwworm-response/
2. Lee C. Bautista-Alejandre A. Not an isolated incident: Q&A with parasitologist on New World screwworm’s return to the US. June 5, 2026. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/not-an-isolated-incident-q-a-with-parasitologist-on-new-world-screwworm-s-return-to-the-us
3. Crossley KC. Experts are providing animal care in flooded disaster areas of Texas. dvm360. July 9, 2025. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/experts-are-providing-animal-care-in-flooded-disaster-areas-of-texas
4. Crossley KC. Veterinary Emergency Team deploys to North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. dvm360. October 3, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinary-emergency-team-deploys-to-north-carolina-in-the-wake-of-hurricane-helene
5. Crossley KC. Veterinary team deploys to help animals affected by wildfires. dvm360. February 29, 2024. Accessed June 16, 2026. https://www.dvm360.com/view/veterinary-team-deploys-to-help-animals-affected-by-texas-wildfires