Senator John Cornyn Warns of Screwworm Threat to Texas Cattle and US Food Supply

The Screwworm Threat to Texas Cattle

• ⚠️ Texas, the leading state in cattle production, is facing a significant threat from the outbreak of the New World screwworm parasite.
• 💡 The screwworm lays eggs in animal wounds, and its larvae burrow into the openings, causing infections that can be fatal within a week if untreated.
• 📉 An outbreak in Texas could cost livestock producers approximately $1 billion and the general economy $3.7 billion due to lost production, death, and increased costs.

International Spread and Border Concerns

• 🌍 The screwworm has spread through Central America, with outbreaks reported in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Costa Rica, which declared it a national emergency.
• ✈️ The fly reached Mexico last November, raising concerns about its potential to cross the US border into Texas.
• 📌 A recent case was reported less than 400 miles south of the US-Mexico border, increasing the urgency of the situation.

USDA Actions and Economic Impact

• 🚢 To prevent further spread, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) closed US ports to Mexican cattle, bison, and horses in May.
• 📈 Halting imports increases costs for consumers and is not a permanent solution.
• 💰 The economic impact of continued spread is estimated to be as high as $10 billion, affecting not only Texas but also other major cattle-producing states like Kansas, Nebraska, California, and New Mexico.

Historical Eradication and Future Solutions

• 🔬 Historically, North America eradicated a similar screwworm outbreak in the 1960s by releasing sterile male flies.
• 🧬 These sterile males mate with female flies, preventing reproduction and stopping population growth.
• 🏗️ Currently, there is only one sterile fly plant in North America, located in Panama; however, the USDA is working with international partners and building a sterile fly dispersal facility in Hidalgo, Texas.
• 💰 While a new sterile fly plant could cost up to $300 million, this is significantly less than the economic devastation of inaction.
• 🤝 The US and Mexican governments are partnering to invest in renovating a facility in Mexico and the USDA is committed to eradicating this threat.