Louisiana Restricts Animal Imports After Texas Finds 1st Screwworm Case Since 1966
Updated
Updated · KNOE · Jun 8
Louisiana Restricts Animal Imports After Texas Finds 1st Screwworm Case Since 1966
3 articles · Updated · KNOE · Jun 8
Summary
Louisiana imposed immediate limits on animals entering the state after USDA confirmed New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in LaPryor, Texas, about 50 miles from the Mexico border.
The parasite—first confirmed in Texas since 1966—lays eggs in wounds and body openings; its larvae feed on living tissue and can cause severe infection or death in livestock, pets, wildlife and, rarely, people.
Animals from an infested state can still enter Louisiana with a veterinary inspection certificate stating they did not originate from or pass through an infested zone; that certificate is valid for 7 days.
Animals that originated in or transited an infested zone need to meet origin-state movement rules, obtain a Louisiana permit and carry a certificate showing each animal was inspected and found free of infestation.
USDA has warned for months that screwworm was moving north through Mexico, but says no other U.S. detections have been found and it does not expect the Texas case to become established.