TAHC Lifts First Screwworm Quarantines, Clearing Areas of Five Counties

For the first time since New World screwworm was confirmed in Texas on June 3, the quarantine map is shrinking. The Texas Animal Health Commission on August 31 released Infested Zones 02.A and 03, lifting movement restrictions from designated areas of Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle and Webb counties.

The release orders — the first of their kind in the response — follow months of coordinated surveillance and eradication work. TAHC said the evidence supports confidence that the wild screwworm population in those areas has been eliminated.

"We can't take our eye off the ball"

"We are pleased with the incredible work and cooperation that has led us to the release of these first zones," said Dr. Bud Dinges, TAHC executive director and Texas state veterinarian. "While we are certainly celebrating this milestone, we can't take our eye off the ball and must remain vigilant in monitoring animals and reporting any suspicions in these newly released areas and beyond."

Regulatory activity continues in the released areas, including sterile fly releases, fly trapping and animal surveillance, and landowners are urged to keep checking domestic animals and wildlife for wounds and larvae.

From 23 counties to 19

The releases take Gillespie, Kerr, La Salle and Webb counties — and parts of Kimble — off the restriction list, leaving movement rules in place in parts of 19 counties: Bandera, Brewster, Coke, Crockett, Edwards, Jim Hogg, Kimble, Medina, Pecos, Presidio, Schleicher, Starr, Sutton, Terrell, Tom Green, Uvalde, Val Verde, Zapata and Zavala. Gillespie and La Salle are the first counties with confirmed cases to have their zones released.