Texas launches quick-reference guide to streamline New World Screwworm movement rules

The Texas Animal Health Commission has introduced a new guide to assist producers, veterinarians, and inspectors in navigating complex movement regulations for animals impacted by the parasitic fly, aiming to improve disease management and prevent spread.

The Texas Animal Health Commission, working with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, has launched a quick-reference guide to help producers, veterinarians and inspectors navigate movement rules linked to New World Screwworm controls.

According to the commission, the resource is intended to make it easier to identify the correct requirements for animals moving out of an infested zone in Texas, including livestock, horses, poultry, exotic birds and rescue groups. The rules vary by species, intended use, type of movement, and both the origin and destination premises.

TAHC says movement certificates must be issued by a deployed responder, a certified inspector or an authorised veterinarian. The commission has also published a list of certified inspectors who have agreed to share their details.

The guidance comes as Texas agencies continue to warn that New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue and can affect both animals and, in rare cases, people. The Texas Department of State Health Services advises that suspected infestations should be reported quickly, while the Texas Division of Emergency Management says livestock, pets and wildlife may all be at risk.

Officials stress that the new guide is a starting point, not a substitute for checking with local animal health offices. For interstate movements, producers are being told to work with their private veterinarian and confirm the destination state’s entry rules before shipping.