Senator Murdock Comments on Detection of New World Screwworm in Texas

FELT – Sen. Casey Murdock, R-Felt, urged Oklahomans to remain vigilant after the New World Screwworm was detected in the United States for the first time in decades.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of the New World Screwworm in Zavala County, Texas on Wednesday. This pest is an invasive species whose larvae infest the open wounds of livestock and other mammals.

Murdock, a cattle rancher and chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Wildlife Committee, emphasized that no cases have been detected in Oklahoma at this time. He added that Screwworms don’t pose a threat to local food supplies.  

“Agriculture is a major part of Oklahoma’s economy, and we have to take this threat to animal safety very seriously,” Murdock said. “Thankfully, we haven't seen any cases in Oklahoma, and our agriculture leaders have been preparing for this possibility for more than a year. I have full confidence in the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, the USDA and our partners in Texas, who are doing everything they can to keep this pest from spreading.”

Last May, Murdock led a joint legislative study to explore how the state was preparing for a scenario in which Screwworms came to the U.S. He estimated that a Screwworm outbreak could cost Oklahoma’s economy more than $1.8 billion. Livestock producers could also face treatment costs of roughly $452 per affected cow, he said during the study.

Murdock said livestock producers and pet owners should frequently inspect their animals for wounds of any kind. Although the confirmed case in Texas was found in a young calf, Screwworms can burrow into any kind of livestock, he said. Common signs of an infestation in an animal can include unusual wound enlargement, larvae in wound tissue and a foul-smelling discharge from the area.

Any suspicious wounds or suspected cases of New World Screwworms should be reported immediately to a veterinarian, county extension agent, or the State Veterinarian's Office at (405) 522-6141.

“Now is the time for agriculture producers across Oklahoma to learn about the New World Screwworm and remain on the lookout for any irregularities within their herds,” Murdock said. “I have no doubt that we can quickly head off this threat by remaining vigilant and working together.”

New restrictions on animal movement are in effect in Texas. More information on how those restrictions could affect Oklahoma producers is available here. Additional information on New World Screwworms can be found here.