New World Screwworm Update: Canada Restricts Livestock From Texas as Abbott Declares State Disaster

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The New World screwworm (NWS) situation escalated this week as Canada implemented temporary import restrictions on livestock from Texas, and Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an updated statewide disaster proclamation this past Friday, June 5th, citing an “imminent threat” to the state’s livestock and wildlife.

Canada Restricts Livestock From Texas as Abbott Declares State Disaster

What Canada changed: temporary import restrictions (including horses)

In a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) news release, Canada announced it will temporarily restrict imports of livestock, including horses, from affected areas, specifying that animals originating from Texas or present in Texas within 21 days prior to border crossing will not be accepted into Canada.

CFIA emphasized that while Canada’s climate is generally not favourable for long-term establishment of the fly, short-term survival during summer months is possible, so restricting imports is considered an appropriate risk-mitigation step.


What Texas changed: Abbott’s statewide disaster proclamation

On June 5, 2026, Governor Abbott issued a New World Screwworm disaster proclamation. In related messaging the same day, Abbott said the declaration is intended to authorize use of all available state resources, accelerate the movement of sterile flies into Texas, and speed construction of the sterile screwworm production facility in Edinburg.


What’s been confirmed in Texas so far

Texas’ emergency posture is being driven by confirmed detections in livestock and related response activity. Texas Tribune reported USDA confirmed a second Texas case in Zavala County and that Abbott expanded the statewide disaster declaration around the same time.

Reuters later reported USDA confirmed additional Texas cases (including a calf in La Salle County and a dog in Andrews County) as the response broadened.

State and federal agencies have emphasized that NWS is a serious animal health threat (and economic threat) but is not a food safety issue in the sense of contaminating meat.


Why this matters to horse owners and breeders

Even though many headlines focus on cattle, CFIA’s action explicitly includes horses, which is a major signal for the performance and breeding industry.

If you ship, sell, or haul horses across the Canada–U.S. border, the key practical takeaway is this: if a horse originates from Texas or was in Texas within the prior 21 days, it may be refused entry under CFIA’s temporary restrictions.

CFIA also urged animal owners and veterinarians to watch for signs of infestation, including wounds that worsen over time with discharge or foul odour, and reminded readers that NWS is immediately notifiable under Canada’s Health of Animals Act.


What to watch next

  1. Case counts and geography in Texas (additional confirmations, counties, and any expansion of control zones).
  2. Sterile fly production and deployment pace, including progress on the Edinburg facility and interim fly supply.
  3. Policy ripple effects: more movement restrictions, additional import limits, and updated guidance from CFIA, USDA, and Texas animal health officials.

Sources

  1. BBC. “Canada bans cattle from Texas as Abbott declares state of disaster over screwworm.” https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevpv3r7jmpo
  2. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) news release on temporary import restrictions. https://www.canada.ca/en/food-inspection-agency/news/2026/06/the-canadian-food-inspection-agency-implements-disease-control-measures-to-prevent-spread-of-new-world-screwworm.html
  3. Governor Abbott disaster proclamation (news release). https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issues-new-world-screwworm-disaster-proclamation-in-june-2026
  4. Governor Abbott deploys resources / sterile fly and Edinburg facility messaging. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-deploys-state-resources-to-combat-new-world-screwworm
  5. Texas Tribune coverage of Texas cases and emergency declaration. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/05/screwworm-texas-greg-abbott-emergency/
  6. Reuters coverage of additional U.S. cases. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-confirms-two-additional-cases-new-world-screwworm-united-states-2026-06-08/
  7. Associated Press coverage (context on response and sterile fly strategy). https://apnews.com/article/fe0ee5f6e04a97b447d79542a0d31a04