Pet Owners In South Texas Being Told To Watch For NWS

The livestock industry nationwide is on heightened alert after, now multiple cases of New World Screwworm have been confirmed in and around Texas. And while beef and dairy operators are receiving constant updates, what about those with pets.

For those living around where the first detection of NWS was reported, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said: “We urge all residents to check your pets.”

And that warning went to all pet owners living along the U.S./Mexico line. USDA notes this insect, in its larva form, feeds on living tissues, usually within wounds of an animal.

“In some of the cases that have been found within 20, 30, 60 miles of the Mexican border in Mexico, many of those were feline cats and dogs,” Rollins noted.

For the latest on New World Screwworm and what pet owners should know regarding prevention and detection, check out USDA's Website.

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