The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed four new New World screwworm cases on October 24. Two cattle in Hudspeth County, Texas, were among them. The other two were in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, a cow and a ram.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the threat to Texas livestock has not gone away. He said the cases show the parasite remains a danger to Texas livestock, to ranchers' livelihoods and to national food security.
Miller said the threat continues even though the issue has received less attention recently. He said he has been warning about it for months and will keep doing so.