Updates on New World Screwworm in New Mexico
July 1, 2026
New Mexico Delegation Takes Action on New World Screwworm
On June 3, 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) identified the first confirmed case of New World Screwworm in the United States since 1966. APHIS had previously eradicated the pest across the United States, and had worked closely with neighboring countries to provide long-term control. However, since 2023, cases have once more begun spreading northward from Central America.
The pest is a fly larva that burrows into the living flesh of livestock and wildlife, often causing severe secondary infections that can lead to death. Previous control efforts worked partly through the introduction of a sterile fly to interfere with the pest’s reproduction. Sterile flies are also part of APHIS’s approach this time around. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is also offering information and assistance for New World Screwworm control.
Unfortunately, the pest is spreading despite APHIS’s control efforts. On June 18, 2026, following confirmed cases of the New World screwworm (NWS) in New Mexico and Texas — U.S. Representatives Leger Fernández and Gabe Vasquez (NM) introduced the Protecting America’s Herds Act, an innovative, bipartisan solution to combat the spread of the parasite, herd loss, and a jump in beef prices. The bill would equip the Cooperative Extension System with resources to train inspectors, inspect livestock, educate producers, and provide the hands-on support needed to catch outbreaks early and stop them from spreading. See more information here: Rep. Leger Fernández Introduces Bipartisan Solution to Protect America’s Herds From New World Screwworm | Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández
On June 22, U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ), Greg Stanton (D-AZ), and Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to push for urgent action to address the confirmed detection of New World screwworm (NWS) in the United States for the first time in sixty years. The letter requests full agency coordination and deployment of all federal resources necessary to contain the New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak in New Mexico and across the country. See full letter here: Reps. Stansbury, Schweikert, Grijalva, Stanton, and Leger Fernandez send Bipartisan Letter to Secretaries Rollins, Kennedy on Screwworm Outbreak | Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury | Representing New Mexico’s First Congressional District
Letter to Congress written by Manny Encinias, New Mexico rancher, Owner of Buffalo Creek Ranch – Torrance County
New Mexico’s livestock producers face increasing biological threats, including the potential reintroduction and spread of the New World Screwworm and other foreign animal pests and diseases. These threats create substantial economic risk for ranchers, increase production costs, and jeopardize domestic food security.
Congress has previously recognized the need to provide emergency support to agricultural producers during extraordinary events, including livestock market disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic and drought-related losses through existing USDA disaster assistance programs. Similar principles should be considered for biological threats that require producers to bear additional costs and management responsibilities to protect the nation’s livestock industry.
We encourage New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation to explore legislation establishing a Livestock Biosecurity and Disease Prevention Assistance Program that would provide per-head payments to livestock producers who participate in surveillance, reporting, monitoring, and prevention efforts during declared animal health emergencies.
Such a program would recognize that ranchers serve as the first line of defense against the introduction and spread of devastating livestock pests and diseases. Modest per-head payments could help offset increased labor, veterinary expenses, treatment costs, record keeping requirements, movement restrictions, and other biosecurity measures necessary to protect animal health.
Investing in prevention is far less costly than responding to a widespread infestation or disease outbreak after it becomes established. A proactive federal partnership with livestock producers would strengthen national food security, protect rural economies, and preserve the long-term viability of America’s livestock industry.
We respectfully urge Congress to evaluate innovative risk-management tools that provide meaningful support to producers facing extraordinary biological threats while advancing the shared goal of safeguarding the nation’s food supply.