DALLAS, TX. (WOWO) Texas officials are on heightened alert after eight new cases of New World screwworm were confirmed near the state’s border with Mexico, bringing the total to 11. The Texas Department of Agriculture reports the infections were identified in Tamaulipas, Mexico, which borders Texa s, and had only three cases a week earlier. The parasitic fly larva feeds on open wounds in livestock and humans, posing a serious threat to the United States’ $600 billion livestock industry, according to Texas AM AgriLife Research. The rapid increase in cases suggests the pest may be spreading naturally rather than through transported animals, making containment more complex. Authorities have stepped up surveillance and trapping at border ports, livestock export facilities, and other areas where animals move across the region. Commissioner Sid Miller emphasized that early detection and aggressive monitoring are key to protecting Texas livestock. The first human case in the U.S. was identified in Maryland in August 2025 after a person traveled to El Salvador. The individual recovered, and no additional infections were reported. U.S. agriculture officials have also halted live cattle crossings along the southern border in response to the outbreak. WTOL reports that authorities continue to advise producers to inspect livestock closely, isolate any suspicious cases, and report concerns immediately to prevent the pest from entering Texas. The post U.S. Livestock at Risk from Rising Screwworm Infections appeared first on WOWO News/Talk 92.3 FM and 1190 AM. ...read more read less