CDC Activates Emergency Operations Center for New World Screwworm Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially activated a Level 3 emergency response to New World screwworm (NWS) on June 11. Level 3 is the lowest level in CDC’s 3-level response structure.
CDC is supporting the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in responding to the recent initial detections of New World Screwworm (NWS) infestations in animals in southern Texas and in one county of New Mexico. USDA has a dashboard showing where animal cases have occurred.
While NWS infestations primarily affect animals including livestock, companion animals, and wildlife, human infestations may occur. Currently, there are no reported human cases in the United States, and the risk to the public remains low. The risk of getting NWS is specific to people and animals in areas where NWS flies are circulating. NWS occurs when flies lay eggs in wounds or body openings in people or animals. NWS is a parasitic infestation and cannot spread from animal to animal, animal to people, or person to person.
In summer 2025, USDA launched a concerted strategy to push back NWS. This unified national collaboration is guided by the U.S. One Health Coordination Unit–New World Screwworm Interagency Working Group, co-led by USDA, CDC, and the Department of the Interior. Together we have engaged in an aggressive national, One Health response to keep New World screwworm out of the United States. NWS has been eradicated from the United States in the past, and CDC will support USDA and other partners to eradicate it again.
Healthcare providers, especially in affected areas, should remain alert for potential NWS infestations in humans and report any suspected NWS infestations to local or state health departments promptly. Veterinarians should report any suspicious animal infestations to their state animal health official and USDA APHIS Office.
If a person becomes infested with NWS in the United States, CDC will share more information to the public. For more information about New World screwworm, go to www.screwworm.gov. For information about how NWS can affect people, go to New World Screwworm Outbreak | New World Screwworm | CDC.