Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a new statewide disaster declaration on Friday to accelerate the fight against the New World Screwworm, a flesh‑eating parasite first confirmed in the state earlier this week. The parasite,which has already been found in Zavala County southwest of Austin and San Antonio, poses a major threat to the U.S. beef and dairy industries. Abbott said swift action is needed because the fly can spread “like wildfire.”

Statewide Disaster Declaration Gives Abbott a New Power‑Up

According to the report, the updated declaration allows the state to mobilize resources and strengthen its response. Abbott is specifically trying to increase the number of sterile flies released in Texas to break the parasite’s reproduction cycle. The governor said he is making “any and all of our state personnel, including our university systems, available to accelerate the movement of sterile flies into the state.”

One Hundred Million Sterile Flies Now, 500 Million Planned

State officials say that in the past it took five times as many sterile flies as Texas is releasing now to eliminate the pest from the United States. “One hundred million flies we’re doing right now. It’s going to jump up. It took 500 million in the past,” Abbott said. Rear Admiral Michael Schmoyer, Director of the New World Screwworm Directorate, added that scientists say dispersing sterile screwworm flies is the most efficient way to eradicate the pest.

Edinburgh Facility to Produce 300 Million Flies a Week, but Not Until 2027

The USDA is building a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg that will produce 300 million sterile flies per week. However, that facility is not expected to begin operating until the fall of 2027. CBS Austin reporter Bettie Cross asked if expedited processes could bring the facility online before November of next year. abbott said he is pushing to get the construction completed by May of next year, offering any and all assets and resources to accelerate the project.

Key Questions About Speed and Scale

According to the report, the first case of the flesh‑eating parasite was confirmed in the state earlier this week, but the exact date and the number of infected animals remain unclear. The source also does not yet confirm how many sterile flies will be released in the first month of the operation, nor how quickly the new facility can ramp up production to meet the 300‑million‑per‑week target. Finally, the report does not detail how the state plans to coordinate with federal agencies to ensure a seamless distribution of sterile flies across the affected zones.

Why the Parasite Matters to Texas Agriculture

The New World Screwworm lays eggs in open wounds of warm‑blooded animals. When the larrvae hatch, they burrow into living flesh, which can be fatal if left unterated. An outbreak could be costly to the Texas cattle and wildlife sectors, with estimates suggesting significant economic damage to the beef and dairy industries. The parasite’s rapid spread has prompted the governor to call for a coordinated, science‑driven response.