Texas Elk Tests Positive for Screwworm

REDFIELD, Iowa (DTN) -- USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the first U.S. wildlife case of New World screwworm (NWS) on Tuesday after an elk harvested by a hunter in Pecos County, Texas, tested positive for the pest. The agency said the animal was already dead when reported, making the case inactive.

As of Oct. 21, there have been 59 total animal cases of NWS since the first one was detected in the U.S. on June 3, 2026. Of these cases, only seven are currently considered active. There have been five NWS cases in domestic livestock in Pecos County, including an active case in a bovine reported on Oct. 10.

"This detection highlights the critical role hunters, landowners, outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife professionals play in helping detect and stop the spread of NWS," the news release said. "Early reporting is one of the most important tools we have to protect wildlife, livestock, and pets in the United States."

APHIS reminds hunters and others who are near infested areas to watch for signs of NWS in all animals, including wildlife. This includes spotting visible larvae in wounds or body openings, open or draining wounds, foul-smelling injuries, and animals that appear in distress. Anyone observing suspicious wounds or larvae should contact animal health officials.

The wildlife detection comes as USDA continues a phased reopening of cattle imports from Mexico, a move agency officials said is possible because of surveillance, treatment and sterile-fly release efforts have limited the spread of the pest.

FURTHER PORT REOPENING EXPECTED

APHIS prepares to reopen the Columbus, New Mexico, port of entry to cattle Oct. 26. This will be the third port of entry to open since August. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said one port of entry would be open each month as long as conditions continue to support safe trade.

Rollins toured the stockyards in Columbus, New Mexico, on Oct. 20 and met with ranchers and state leaders to discuss continued efforts to stop NWS from further threatening American livestock.

"More than 1.5 billion sterile flies have been released to stop the spread," Rollins said on social platform X. She further pointed out that the small number of cases show prevention efforts are working with less than 60 cases since June. She compared the current status to the 1972 NWS outbreak, in which there were more than 90,000 cases in Texas alone.

APHIS will also resume the importation of horses and other equines from Mexico via land crossing through the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, port of entry Oct. 26. This crossing was opened for cattle Sept. 24, 2026. Equines entering at Santa Teresa will complete inspection, treatment and quarantine on the U.S. side of the border because the facilities on the Mexican side will remain closed for equine at this time.

If conditions continue to support safe trade and all inspection requirements are met, USDA plans to reopen the Nogales, Arizona, port of entry to cattle imports on Nov. 30.

Editor's Note: 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/….

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

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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