Webb County remains free of New World screwworm infections

Webb County officials say the county still has no active or inactive New World screwworm cases, even as parts of the northern county remain in a surveillance area.

Jeffrey Hester, Webb County’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension agent, said the surveillance designation has caused confusion, but it does not mean there is a confirmed infestation in the county. He said the area under watch includes part of northern Webb County, especially around Highway 44 north of the Callaghan ranches.

Hester said an infectious zone is drawn within 12 miles of a confirmed case. Ranchers moving livestock from affected areas must coordinate with the Texas Animal Health Commission before transport.

Surveillance zone, not a case

County officials are trying to correct the idea that a surveillance map means Webb County has an outbreak. Hester said residents should rely on official sources and warned about misinformation, including AI-generated content.

Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina said county officials are working with AgriLife Extension and other agencies on a public information campaign. He also said screwworm can affect all warm-blooded animals, including pets.

The clarification comes as Texas and neighboring border areas continue to respond to New World screwworm detections. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed Texas’ first domestic case in decades on June 3 in a calf in Zavala County.

Regional response continues

Laredo officials said earlier this week that there were no confirmed screwworm cases in Laredo or Webb County, but they increased animal surveillance after a reported case in nearby Nuevo Laredo.

By late June, reporting said more than 20 animal cases had been confirmed in Texas and New Mexico. State and federal agencies have expanded surveillance, trapping and sterile-fly response measures in the region.

Officials say the local stakes are practical and immediate: livestock movement from affected areas may face restrictions, pet owners and ranchers may miss early infestations if they mistake surveillance for confirmation, and a wider spread could threaten cattle, wildlife and pets across South Texas.

County officials are expected to keep pushing public information about the surveillance boundary and movement rules as monitoring continues.