Story perspectives

USDA Confirms Six Screwworm Cases, Triggers Texas Quarantine, Import Bans

6/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

USDA confirmed five screwworm cases in Texas and a sixth in New Mexico.
USDA and Texas officials set 20-km quarantine zones, movement controls, and weekly sterile-fly releases.
Canada halted cattle, horse and other livestock imports from Texas.
Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Montana added extra veterinary requirements for Texas-origin livestock.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the federal response and urged a poison bait despite USDA safety concerns.

History

Historical Context

Edward F. Knipling and Raymond C. Bushland proposed the sterile-insect technique in the late 1950s, leading the USDA to eradicate the New World screwworm from the southern United States by 1966 after releasing over 94 billion sterile flies. In June 2026 the USDA confirmed cases in Texas and Zavala County, prompting renewed 20-km quarantine zones near the Mexico border.

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Story summary

USDA confirmed five screwworm cases in Texas and a sixth in New Mexico.
USDA and Texas officials set 20-km quarantine zones, movement controls, and weekly sterile-fly releases.
Canada halted cattle, horse and other livestock imports from Texas.
Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Montana added extra veterinary requirements for Texas-origin livestock.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller criticized the federal response and urged a poison bait despite USDA safety concerns.

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