Austin, Texas — January 29, 2026 – Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday issued a statewide disaster declaration aimed at preventing the potential spread of the New World screwworm (NWS) fly into Texas, authorizing additional state resources to protect livestock, wildlife, and the state’s agricultural economy. Although the destructive parasite is not currently present in Texas or elsewhere in the United States, state officials warn that its continued northward spread from Mexico toward the southern border poses a serious risk. The New World screwworm fly lays eggs in open wounds on animals, and the...