The Texas agriculture commissioner is responding to actions taken by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to restrict importation of animals into Florida from counties in Texas that are at high risk for New World screwworm (NWS).
On April 24, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued an emergency rule placing temporary restrictions on the importation of animals into Florida from high-risk counties in Texas. These temporary restrictions require all animals imported into Florida originating from a high-risk U.S. county to undergo increased veterinary screenings and treatment, if necessary.
“Today we are taking aggressive action to further protect Florida and our agricultural producers from the real threat of the New World screwworm,” Simpson said in a press release. “We know how costly and dangerous this pest can be to our agricultural industry if it takes hold, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect our state. We’re also calling on Florida’s producers, veterinarians and animal health professionals to remain aware and act quickly if they suspect something unusual.”
In response, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said Florida’s move is understandable.
“With the growing threat of New World screwworm, and as ground zero of America’s last outbreak a decade ago, they’re acting to protect their state. This isn’t a distant risk, and their heightened biosecurity makes that clear,” Miller said in a statement. “The impacts of New World screwworm are already here. The extended halt on cattle movement from Mexico alone is straining supply chains, cutting into Texas meatpacking capacity, and pushing prices higher for families nationwide. And let’s be clear; this threat isn’t going away anytime soon.”
Emergency rule restrictions
Florida’s emergency rule imposes the following temporary restrictions on the importation of animals originating from high-risk counties:
- Except where more stringent requirements are adopted, all animals being imported into Florida from a high-risk county must meet the movement requirements in Chapter 5C-3, F.A.C.
- All warm-blooded animals originating from a high-risk county being imported into Florida must be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) documenting that all animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and found free of contagious and infectious disease and pests, including NWS. No alternative movement documents will be accepted in lieu of an OCVI.
- The OCVI must include the statement, “All animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and are free from screwworm larvae infestation.”
- The OCVI is valid for no more than 7 days from the date of veterinary inspection.
- All warm-blooded animals that have wounds that are not infested with NWS larvae can be imported into Florida provided that the following requirements are met:
- Any animal with a wound must be treated using an effective treatment. The effective treatment must be administered by or directly overseen by an authorized representative or licensed veterinarian. The effective treatment for NWS must be administered in accordance with the following:
- Oral or injected treatments must be administered no less than 12 hours and no more than 14 days prior to entry into Florida.
- Systemic, topical treatments must be administered no less than 72 hours and no more than 14 days prior to entry into Florida.
- In addition to receiving a systemic effective treatment, all animals with non-infested wounds must have the wounds topically treated with a product effective against NWS. The wound location and treatment must be documented on the OCVI.
The emergency rule applies to the following counties:
- Zapata County, Texas
- Jim Hogg County, Texas
- Starr County, Texas
- Hidalgo County, Texas
- Webb County, Texas
- Brooks County, Texas
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is also urging veterinarians, livestock producers and animal health professionals to remain vigilant as the threat of NWS reintroduction into the United States grows due to the pest’s continued movement through Mexico.
Although there have been no detections in the U.S., FDACS is closely coordinating with federal and regional partners to monitor the situation. The New World screwworm, a destructive parasite that targets warm-blooded animals, was eradicated from the U.S. more than four decades ago. Its return would pose a serious threat to livestock, wildlife and domestic animals, particularly in states like Florida with warm climates and abundant animal populations.
