A horrific, flesh-eating parasite has officially breached the U.S. border, forcing Florida to enact emergency rules on Friday to block the invasive pest from decimating the state’s vulnerable livestock.
The emergency lockdown comes after the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed the first official U.S. case of the New World screwworm in Texas earlier this week. The parasitic fly, which slowly migrated up from Central America through Mexico over several years, was eradicated from the U.S. mainland in 1966, aside from a brief, isolated outbreak in the Florida Keys in 2017. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the fly targets warm-blooded animals by laying eggs in open wounds and body openings, where the hatched larvae literally feed on the live animal.
To protect Florida’s 1.5 million head of cattle and a ranching and dairy industry that brought in over $2 billion in sales in 2022, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued Emergency Rule 5CER26-6.
“In light of the recent New World Screwworm detection in South Texas, Florida is taking aggressive action to best protect our state and our agricultural producers from this very serious threat,” Simpson said. “We know how costly and dangerous this pest can be to our agricultural producers if it takes hold, and we will use every tool at our disposal to protect our state. We’re also calling on Florida’s producers, veterinarians, animal health professionals, and the public to remain aware and act quickly if they suspect something unusual. We are going to need a unified front to respond to this threat.”
Simpson later doubled down on social media, posting on X: “We are going to need a unified front from the government, our agricultural community, and the public to respond to this threat.”
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced it will not accept any warm-blooded animals from designated infested zones until June 10, 2026. After June 10, any warm-blooded animal originating from an infested zone must be certified by Florida two days prior to arrival and must be inspected by a veterinarian within five days of travel. These animals will require an FDACS Certificate of Animal Movement, an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI), proof of effective chemical treatment, and a movement certificate from the originating state.
Animals coming from designated “high-risk” areas must also carry a valid five-day OCVI explicitly stating: “All animals listed on the OCVI have been inspected and are free from screwworm larvae infestation.”
The state is enforcing these rules with zero tolerance. Animal imports from high-risk areas arriving without official certificates will be slapped with a fine and forced into quarantine, while any animals arriving from infested zones without proper paperwork will be turned away directly at the state border.
Industry experts warn that the return of the parasite could devastate meat production and trigger a massive economic crisis, especially since national cattle numbers are already hovering at historic lows. However, officials emphasize that the parasite poses no threat to human consumers. The USDA confirmed the screwworm cannot spread through meat, poultry, or dairy products.
“The screwworm does not affect the quality of the beef and is not a food safety issue,” noted Pat Durden, a Panhandle herd owner and former president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.
While there are currently no reported cases of the screwworm in Florida, the state’s warm climate makes it a prime target. FDACS is urging animal owners to check for slow-healing wounds containing larvae. Suspected cases can be reported to FDACS at (850) 410-0900 during business hours, 1-800-342-5869 after hours, or online at www.FDACS.gov/RAD. Suspected wildlife infestations should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922.
READ: DeSantis Reshapes Florida College Leadership With 16 Trustee Choices Across Five Campuses
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
