New World Screwworm Detected in Sutton County Sheep

SAN ANGELO, TX — A New World screwworm has been confirmed in a sheep in Sutton County, raising the total number of confirmed animal cases in the United States to 12, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s screwworm detection dashboard. 

The Sutton County case, with a confirmation date of June 12, prompted the Texas Animal Health Commission to issue an executive order on June 13 designating the area as Infested Zone 06. The zone includes portions of Sutton, Kimble and Schleicher counties. An adjacent surveillance zone has also been established. 

In a statement issued June 14, the TAHC said the infested zone was created “in association with a NWS detection in a sheep.”

The order imposes the following movement restrictions on warm-blooded animals in the zone:

• Animals may not be moved outside the zone without prior authorization from the commission. Anyone in possession or control of such animals must obtain permission and comply with all conditions set by the commission before transport.
• To move animals outside the zone, they must be inspected and treated as required by the commission and issued a permit or certificate by a commission representative.
• Hides, carcasses and parts of any animal capable of serving as a host for NWS must be inspected and treated as necessary by a commission representative before removal from the zone.
• Unauthorized movement is prohibited and subject to administrative penalties and/or criminal prosecution.

This is the second confirmed New World screwworm case in the Concho Valley. The first was reported in Tom Green County on a property between Grape Creek and Carlsbad with a confirmation date of June 11. That detection led Tom Green County and the City of San Angelo to declare a local state of disaster. 

It is also the first reported case affecting sheep since the initial detection in Zavala County on June 3. 

For Texas-specific resources and updates, visit tahc.texas.gov/emergency/nws.html.