UPDATE: On Monday, Aug. 31, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officially released Kerr County from Infested Zone #03 and the regulations tied to that designation.

WHAT IS NWS?

New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly that poses a serious threat to livestock, exotic livestock, fowl and exotic fowl in Texas.

NWS flies lay eggs in wounds or soft tissues of live warm-blooded animals; the larvae hatch and burrow into living tissue, leading to the painful condition NWS myiasis. As the infestation worsens and the wounds become larger, it can cause serious injury, secondary infection and possibly death if not treated.

INFESTED ZONES:

The Infested zone had been established because of the detection of a New World Screwworm case in neighboring Gillespie County. Included in Infested Zone #03 were parts of Gillespie, Kerr and Kendall Counties.

THe TAHC had identified the zone and detailed its quarantine and animal movement restrictions in order to protect the health of animals in this state, reduce the spread of NWS to non-infested animals, and prevent NWS from establishing in new areas.

Here is the original TAHC order detailing restrictions in a downloadable/viewable PDF document:

Order Declaring Animal Movement Restrictions (PDF)

DECLARING DISASTER

Judge Rob Kelly first signed a Kerr County Declaration of Disaster on June 19, 2026 and emailed Texas Governor Greg Abbott about the New World Screwworm situation.

Initial Kerr County Disaster Declaration for New World Screwworm (PDF)

Then, as is required by law within 7 days, the Kerr County Commissioners' Court approved an extension of the disaster declaration during their Monday, June 22, meeting.

Disaster Declaration Extension by Kerr County Commissioners' Court (PDF)

AFFECTED ZONES

To see an interactive map from the Texas Animal Health Commission click the following link:

TAHC Screwworm Interactive Map

Not sure where you are in proximity to the infected or surveillance zones? You can type your exact physical address in the map and it'll show you.

SCREWWORM FACTS:

Did you know that screwworms do NOT pose a food safety issue? The USDA states the parasite cannot spread through the consumption of meat, poultry or dairy product.

Screwworms are not a contagious disease or virus. Transmission only occurs when female screwworm flies lay eggs directly in an open wound or exposed mucous membrane of a warm-blooded animal.

For more FACTS and detailed information, visit:

Screwworm.gov

REPORT A CASE:

To report a suspected case of screwworm maggots in a wound on a warm-blooded animal, call:

LIVESTOCK - 1-800-550-8242 (TAHC)

NATIVE WILDLIFE - 512-389-4505 (TPWD)

Note: No need to report flies.