MEDINA COUNTY, Texas – The New World Screwworm was detected Tuesday in a cow in northwest Medina County, according to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC).
Due to the detection of the New World Screwworm, Medina County Judge Keith Lutz said in a statement that portions of Bandera, Medina and Uvalde counties have since been designated as “Infested Zone 09.”
To prioritize the health of animals and reduce the spread of the parasitic fly, the Texas Animal Health Commission said a quarantine is now in effect for Infested Zone 09.
The following animal movement restrictions are now imposed:
- Warm-blooded animals located in Infested Zone 09 cannot be moved outside the zone without permission from the TAHC
- To move animals outside the zone, the animal must be inspected and treated as required by the TAHC and issued a permit or certificate for movement by a TAHC representative
- Any parts of an animal capable of serving as a host for the parasitic fly must be inspected and receive treatment deemed necessary by a TAHC representative before its removal from the zone
- Unauthorized movement is not allowed and is subject to administrative penalties and/or criminal prosecution
According to the TAHC, the order will remain in effect until the quarantine is lifted.
As of Thursday morning, there are 17 active cases of the New World Screwworm in Texas, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture online dashboard.
Bandera County Commissioners are expected to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday to consider declaring a local state of disaster.
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