Statement by Martha Scott Poindexter On New World Screwworm Detection in Texas

(June 4, 2026) New World Screwworm has now been detected in Texas – a serious development that U.S. animal health officials have long worked to prevent.

The encouraging news is that U.S. authorities have seen this coming and have been working urgently to prepare.  Since August of 2025, FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has conditionally approved three products and used its Emergency Use Authority to approve another nine products to treat or prevent infestations in a wide variety of species, including beef and dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, deer, dogs and cats. [Animal Drugs for New World Screwworm | FDA]

This progress was made possible by the proactive and flexible use of these authorities and the collaboration between CVM and industry.  It is a demonstration of what is possible when regulators and industry come together with a common purpose of providing tools and serving the needs of veterinarians, farmers and ranchers in the face of a disease threat.

Veterinarians, farmers, ranchers, and animal owners along the southern border now have this challenge of dealing with New World Screwworm. The animal health industry stands ready to assist in any way we can, including providing information on the tools available to fight this threat and helping ensure those tools are used appropriately and consistently with approved labels and authorizations.