ADA North East on the New World Screwworm

On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, USDA confirmed the detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas. Zavala County is in Southwest Texas, roughly halfway between San Antonio and the U.S.-Mexico border.

ADA Northeast and national partners are monitoring traditional and social media coverage, stakeholder conversations and any emerging misinformation or activist activity.
It’s imperative all segments of the dairy industry speak with one voice to maintain consumer confidence in the safeness of the milk supply and human health. Here’s how you can do your part:

• If you choose to proactively talk about this issue, only share information from verified, reputable sources (such as USDA, National Milk Producers Federation, or your state department of agriculture) either through in-person conversations or on social media. A list of resources has been provided below.
• Please be patient with consumer questions or concerns. The country’s safe, wholesome food supply is important to everyone, and threats to that system cause high concern.
• A few key points you can share:
  • This is an animal health concern; not a human health issue.
  • It is not a contagious disease.
  • New World screwworm does not impact the safety of milk or dairy products; Milk and dairy food safety systems remain strong and science based.
  • New World screwworm is a livestock and animal health issue that extends well beyond dairy.
• The dairy community is coordinating closely with USDA and veterinary experts.

USDA’s Response

• Forming a unified Incident Command Team with the Texas Animal Health Commission and deploying response personnel to the area;
• Establishing an approximately 12.5-mile (20 km) infested zone around the detection and implementing quarantines, movement controls and surveillance in this area;
• Expediting targeted release of sterile NWS flies by immediately deploying ground release chambers in the area, in addition to the 4 million sterile flies per week already being released aerially in the area;
• Increasing trapping for NWS flies along the border and just outside of the dispersal area;
• Implementing NWS surveillance and management strategies in wildlife;
• Conducting targeted outreach in the local area; and
• USDA surveillance efforts also extend to Arizona, New Mexico and California.

• USDA APHIS New World Screwworm Resource Hub
• USDA APHIS Emergency Response
• USDA APHIS Response Playbook
• USDA APHIS Myth Busters
• Protecting Your Dairy from New World Screwworm (NMPF resource)
• Dairy Preparedness in the Face of New World Screwworm (NMPF Webinar)
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