Florida agriculture officials have expanded animal movement restrictions to include four counties in California and five in Arizona after new cases of the destructive New World Screwworm were detected in the Mexican state of Sonora.
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the changes under Emergency Rule 5CER26-7, an order aimed at keeping the flesh-eating parasite from entering the state. The updated rule targets both confirmed infested areas and adjacent regions now designated as high risk.
“Florida has been out front from the beginning when it comes to protecting our state from New World Screwworm. We have taken proactive steps to prepare for this threat, and we will continue to adjust our response based on where the threat is moving,” Simpson said. “Today’s action reflects the latest information available and ensures Florida’s existing protections are applied to newly designated infested and high-risk areas. We will stay ahead of this threat and continue to protect Florida’s livestock, pets, wildlife, and agricultural economy.”
Under the emergency guidelines, all warm-blooded animals coming into Florida from designated high-risk zones must carry an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) issued within five days of travel. The document must explicitly state that the animals were inspected and found clear of screwworm larvae and other infectious pests. No substitute paperwork will be accepted.
For animals traveling directly from active infested zones, the rules are even stricter. Importers must apply for a state movement permit at least two days before arrival. The veterinary certificate must show that the animals were inspected within a five-day window, certified free of larvae, and treated with an approved screwworm medication. In addition, Florida has placed a total ban on importing rescue or shelter animals from infested states, including any warm-blooded pets under the care of public or private shelters and humane societies.
The New World Screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae burrow into and feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, often entering through open cuts or minor scratches. While the United States eradicated the pest decades ago, recent detections in Mexico and the southern U.S. have led agricultural agencies to ramp up border and transit safeguards.
State officials confirmed there are currently no known cases of screwworm in Florida. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is coordinating monitoring efforts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, local veterinarians, livestock ranchers, and wildlife managers.
The move follows a series of state actions dating back to early 2025, when Florida established an internal task force and joined national response groups. Earlier this summer, state officials issued emergency orders following a screwworm detection in Texas and successfully petitioned to include screwworm response measures under Governor Ron DeSantis’s disaster declaration framework (Executive Order 2026-117).
Agriculture officials urge ranchers, pet owners, and veterinarians to inspect animals for slow-healing wounds containing visible larvae. Suspected cases can be reported to FDACS at (850) 410-0900 during normal hours or (800) 342-5869 after hours. Suspected infestations in wild animals should be reported directly to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-3922.
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