Texas Launches Central Website for New World Screwworm Information

Texas has launched a new web portal intended to centralize information about the New World screwworm as state and federal agencies continue response efforts tied to the livestock and wildlife pest.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced June 19 that the enhanced website, available through the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s Disaster Portal, is designed as a single access point for information and resources from state agency partners involved in the response.

The portal includes fact sheets, videos and educational materials, along with background information on the New World screwworm, guidance on how to spot it and sample collection procedures. It also links to Texas Animal Health Commission zone maps, the U.S. Department of Agriculture case dashboard and best practices for livestock and wildlife.

The state’s technology response also includes tools outside the governor’s information portal. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) website has a separate New World Screwworm Detection Map and Reporting Center that allow users to view confirmed detections, monitor activity near the Texas border and report suspected cases through an interactive portal. The department’s FAQ says the map was developed internally by TDA and can be used to track detections and view trap locations.

The governor’s website includes information about registering for a no-cost New World Screwworm Certified Inspector Training program as part of a broader state effort to certify more inspectors across Texas and help keep livestock moving.

The launch follows several state actions related to the response, including creation of a joint Texas New World screwworm response team, a statewide disaster declaration and activation of the State Emergency Operations Center after the first confirmed cases in Texas. Abbott also joined U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to announce a $750 million investment in a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg.