New World screwworm
Larvae of the screwworm fly that were extracted from cows lie at an inspection center of Honduras' Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, in Valle de Jamastran, Honduras, May 21, 2025.

Fredy Rodriguez/Reuters

AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the rollout of a comprehensive web portal designed to give Texans a centralized resource for information regarding the New World screwworm.

Hosted within the Texas Division of Emergency Management Disaster Portal, the site at screwworm.texas.gov connects users with tools and updates from various state agencies involved in the response efforts.

“The New World screwworm poses a direct threat to Texas livestock, wildlife, and our rural economy,” said Abbott. “This new website puts essential tools in the hands of our producers, veterinarians, and families. Screwworm.texas.gov delivers the facts, maps, identification methods, and certification resources Texans need to detect problems early and report cases without delay. Now every Texan has the information to act. Texas will protect our land, our animals, and our way of life from this pest.”

The platform acts as a digital hub offering reliable educational materials, multimedia content, fact sheets, and videos. Users can review data on how to recognize the parasite, view the Texas Animal Health Commission zone maps, check the U.S. Department of Agriculture case dashboard, and access guidelines for managing livestock and wildlife. Information on signing up for the complimentary New World screwworm Certified Inspector Training is also available.

Federal and state agencies are maintaining a unified approach to monitor and manage the pest. Broadening public awareness and establishing transparent communication lines are central to these containment efforts.

Abbott has initiated several measures to address the situation:

  • Directed the creation of the joint Texas NWS Response Team, bringing together state agencies, producers, veterinarians, wildlife experts, and federal partners.

  • Joined USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to announce a $750 million investment in a new sterile fly production facility in Edinburg.

  • Issued a statewide disaster declaration to mobilize resources and strengthen response efforts before the first detection.

  • Deployed all available state resources and activated the State Emergency Operations Center following the first confirmed NWS cases in Texas.

  • Joined Secretary Rollins and federal partners at the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory in Kerrville for a briefing on the ongoing NWS response.

  • Launched a free online training course to certify more NWS inspectors across Texas and keep livestock moving.

  • Announced federal funding to strengthen NWS inspection capacity.

Residents are encouraged to monitor domestic animals and pets for open injuries and report suspicious cases immediately. Livestock and pet concerns should be directed to the Texas Animal Health Commission veterinarian line at 1-800-550-8242. Wildlife sightings can be reported to the Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist line at 512-389-4505.

Officials advise against relocating any infected animals. Ongoing details can be found at screwworm.texas.gov and screwworm.gov.