{"id":160777,"date":"2025-08-15T16:26:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T16:26:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/gov-abbott-usda-secretary-to-discuss-threat-prevention-of-new-world-screwworm-ksat\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T16:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T16:26:10","slug":"gov-abbott-usda-secretary-to-discuss-threat-prevention-of-new-world-screwworm-ksat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/gov-abbott-usda-secretary-to-discuss-threat-prevention-of-new-world-screwworm-ksat\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Abbott, USDA Secretary to discuss threat, prevention of New World screwworm – KSAT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Andrea K. Moreno<\/a><\/span>, Digital Journalist
Published:\u00a0Andrea K. Moreno<\/a><\/span>, Digital Journalist
AUSTIN, Texas<\/strong> \u2013 State and federal leaders are expected to discuss plans to fight the New World screwworm during a Friday press conference in Austin.
Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins will hold the event at 11:30 a.m. at the Texas Capitol, according to a news release.
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KSAT will livestream the event in this article. Delays are possible; if there is not a stream, please come back at a later time.<\/b><\/i>
The screwworm, or Cochliomyia hominivorax, is a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into the flesh of living animals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a>, causing severe and often fatal injuries.
The parasite can infest livestock, pets, wildlife, sometimes birds and in rare cases, people.
The U.S. closed its southern border to livestock imports this summer after the screwworm advanced farther north in Mexico, according to the Associated Press<\/a>.
American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses, something that happened decades ago.
The Texas Tribune<\/a> previously reported that the parasite was eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s but began moving north in 2022, which has now spread to Mexico.
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Copyright 2025 by KSAT – All rights reserved.
Andrea K. Moreno is a Digital Journalist at KSAT. She graduated from Texas State University with an electronic media degree and a minor in psychology. She also attended San Antonio College, where she held several positions at The Ranger, now known as The Sundial, for three years.
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