The Texas Animal Health Commission has released two New World screwworm infested zones covering parts of five counties, marking the first rollback of animal movement restrictions since the parasite was first confirmed in the state nearly three months ago. TAHC Executive Director Dr. Lewis “Bud” Dinges signed the release orders Monday, ending quarantine requirements in portions of Gillespie, Kerr and Kimble counties, as well as parts of La Salle and Webb counties.
Which zones were released, and why?
The commission lifted Infested Zone 3, which covered sections of Gillespie, Kerr and Kimble counties after a goat tested positive near Harper in June, and Infested Zone 2A, which restricted movement in parts of La Salle and Webb counties following a case first identified in a bovine on June 8. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said these are the first infested zones released anywhere in Texas since the state’s initial detection on June 3. Officials attributed the release to months of coordinated surveillance, targeted sterile fly dispersal, and sustained monitoring that showed no new activity in either area.
What does this change for producers?
Permits and NWS inspections are no longer required for animals moving within the boundaries of the released zones, according to TAHC. Producers and pet owners in the affected portions of Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle and Webb counties can resume normal movement of livestock and companion animals without the certification process that had been in place since the zones were established. Officials noted that other interstate and international export requirements remain unchanged and continue to apply regardless of a zone’s release status.
What did officials say about the milestone?
Dinges characterized the release as a significant point in the state’s response effort. “We are pleased with the incredible work and cooperation that has led us to the release of these first zones,” Dinges said in a statement announcing the action. He added that maintaining vigilance remains essential, saying the state “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.”
Is the threat over statewide?
No. Several infested zones remain active elsewhere in Texas as APHIS and TAHC continue evaluating conditions for potential future releases. Since the June 3 detection in Zavala County, cases have been confirmed across more than twenty counties stretching from the Rio Grande Valley through West Texas and into the Hill Country, prompting a series of expanding and, in some cases, modified containment orders throughout the summer. The commission has said it will continue assessing zones individually based on surveillance data before considering additional releases.
Has the response reached Central Texas counties like Travis and Caldwell?
There have been no confirmed cases in Travis or Caldwell counties. Both signed local disaster declarations earlier this summer as a precautionary measure, citing the goal of streamlining coordination with state and federal partners if the parasite were ever detected locally. Officials in both counties said at the time the move reflected preparedness rather than any known local infestation, and that status has not changed.
How does the eradication method work?
The response relies on the sterile insect technique, the same method credited with eliminating New World screwworm from the United States in 1966. Sterile male flies are released into affected areas to mate with wild females, whose resulting eggs do not hatch, gradually collapsing the local population over successive breeding cycles. Federal and state officials say this approach, combined with surveillance and wound management protocols on individual animals, remains the foundation of the ongoing eradication strategy in the remaining active zones.
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