Story perspectives

First US screwworm case in 40 years triggers $1M aid

6/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Food Agency pledged $1 million for research to contain screwworm outbreak in Americas.
Screwworm was confirmed in Lea County, New Mexico, the first U.S. case in 40 years.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández introduced the Protecting America’s Herd Act, creating grants for aid to states and communities.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster, prompting a 13-county quarantine and fly-control by shelters.

History

Historical Context

After sterile-insect trials began on Curaçao in 1954, the United States used the technique to wipe out New World screwworm from the Southeast and Southwest by 1960 and declared the species extirpated by the mid-1960s. From 1962-1975 the USDA and Mexico released over 94 billion sterile flies, a model now guiding the USDA-APHIS response to 2026 detections in Texas and New Mexico.

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Story summary

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and United Nations Food Agency pledged $1 million for research to contain screwworm outbreak in Americas.
Screwworm was confirmed in Lea County, New Mexico, the first U.S. case in 40 years.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández introduced the Protecting America’s Herd Act, creating grants for aid to states and communities.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott declared a disaster, prompting a 13-county quarantine and fly-control by shelters.

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