State and federal officials are taking aggressive action against a growing screwworm crisis threatening Texas livestock and public health.
This week, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller announced a renewed partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to deploy “Swormlure-5,” a potent synthetic bait aimed at eradicating the flesh-eating parasite.
“The New World Screwworm is not just a Texas problem. This is a nationwide crisis with potential massive implications for American agriculture,” Commissioner Miller warned. “We cannot wait for sterile flies alone to turn the tide. That’s why we’re applying a little cowboy logic and bringing back Swormlure.”
Swormlure-5 is the latest evolution of the chemical bait, scientifically engineered to mimic the scent of open wounds. It specifically attracts adult screwworm flies and blow flies, which are both deadly to livestock, without harming pollinators like honey bees or monarch butterflies.
“Swormlure-5, created using modern science and built upon previous versions, is a potent synthetic attractant that draws adult screwworm flies to the bait, where they die,” Commissioner Miller explained. “This method eliminated approximately 90% of the flies within a two-to-four-week period in prior deployments. The remaining 10% were eliminated with sterile male fly releases in targeted areas.”
The initiative is a crucial move to protect animals and humans alike from the New World Screwworm, which is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae consumes the living flesh of their hosts, often leading to severe infections and death if untreated.
Livestock including cattle, sheep, goats, and deer are most vulnerable, but humans can also be affected.
Although the screwworm is reported to have been eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s, officials confirm it is re-entering from Mexico, prompting urgent containment efforts.
Last month, Governor Greg Abbott (R) ordered the formation of a task force to combat the screwworm crisis.
