Trump Appoints John Bellinger to Lead Screwworm Response as Texas Logs 4 Cases
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 9
Trump Appoints John Bellinger to Lead Screwworm Response as Texas Logs 4 Cases
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 9
Summary
John Bellinger, a Texas cattleman and food-safety executive, was named senior advisor for New World screwworm preparedness to help lead the federal response.
Four Texas cases and New Mexico’s first reported case drove the appointment, with USDA saying Bellinger will expand testing, detection and other tools to curb the parasite’s spread.
Bellinger said he will work with USDA and state partners to ramp up population-reduction efforts and strengthen long-term capabilities to push the pest back beyond U.S. borders.
USDA highlighted his Texas ties and livestock-industry background, including roles at Food Safety Net Services, Agri-West International and the Texas A&M Board of Regents.