LUBBOCK — Animal welfare groups and state officials in Texas responded to a confirmed New World screwworm case in a dog as authorities expanded quarantine measures and warned that overcrowded shelters could worsen the outbreak’s impact.
The Texas Animal Health Commission imposed quarantine orders across parts of 13 counties after detecting screwworm cases in livestock and a dog, restricting the movement of warm-blooded animals in affected zones to prevent further spread.
The quarantined counties include Coke, Edwards, Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Schleicher, Sutton, Tom Green, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb and Zavala.
Rebecca Giamona, assistant medical care director for Austin Pets Alive, said shelter overcrowding could lead to mass euthanasia if animals cannot be moved out of restricted areas.
“They will do mass, mass, mass euthanasias if they aren’t allowed to move the animals out of the quarantine zones,” Giamona said. “There could be thousands of animals dying in shelters because they don’t have the space to continue to cover those animals.”
She said rural shelters face additional strain due to limited funding and resources, making animals in those facilities more vulnerable.
According to Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare nonprofit, an estimated 568,325 cats and dogs entered Texas shelters in recent years.
The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in open wounds. The larvae feed on living tissue and can affect livestock, wildlife, pets and humans.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster proclamation covering all 254 counties in the state in response to the outbreak.
The quarantine restricts animal transport out of affected zones, a measure officials said is intended to slow transmission and prevent wider spread.
Erin Robinson, director of communications for the Texas Animal Health Commission, said inspectors are working to ensure infected animals are identified and treated before movement.
“This way, we can assure our trade partners in other parts of this state, and other states, that we’re not spreading new world screwworm out of this zone if we can help it,” Robinson said.
She said officials are also urging pet owners and shelters to inspect animals closely for injuries or signs of infestation.
Veterinarians said animals with open wounds are at higher risk, and shelters have increased fly control measures and monitoring.
Dr. Virginia DeChant of the Houston SPCA said the organization has intensified precautions for animals in its care, including fly control systems and protective equipment for horses.
“We’re really making sure they’re healing well,” DeChant said. “The main symptom of the screwworm is that the wounds won’t heal.”
She said the organization now treats 500 to 600 animals weekly and continues routine intake procedures, including parasite prevention.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Nitenpyram for treatment of screwworm in dogs and cats, while additional medications are approved for livestock.
Austin Pets Alive said its veterinarians are certified screwworm inspectors and work with partner shelters to treat animals so they can be safely transported and adopted.
Officials urged the public to report suspected cases, including injuries in stray animals or wildlife.
“We’re asking all animal owners, all people visiting areas where they might encounter wildlife, anyone who might see a stray dog in the parking lot of their local H-E-B, to report anything suspicious,” Robinson said.