New Mexico officials expanded surveillance after confirming screwworm infections in a Grant County horse and calf amid the reopening of the Santa Teresa cattle crossing.
Digital Assignment Editor
The Department of Agriculture added two New World screwworm cases on Friday.
Animal health officials discovered the cases in Grant County, where a previous case was detected in September.
The infected animals were a horse and a calf. September’s case was also a horse, and screwworm was detected in a Lea County dog in June.
State and federal officials said they were expanding surveillance and fly-trapping near affected locations to identify any additional cases. Two infested zones were established around the affected animal’s location in which animals must be inspected and treated as necessary.
“We appreciate the continued cooperation of livestock producers, veterinarians and animal owners as we respond to these additional cases,” said New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte. “Early detection and prompt reporting are critical to limiting the spread of this pest. We encourage everyone to remain vigilant and work closely with animal health officials.”
The department encouraged animal owners to monitor animals for wounds that fail to heal, worsening wounds, maggots in wounds, or foul-smelling or unusual discharge from animal wounds, and to contact the New Mexico Livestock Board and avoid moving detected cases.
The new cases came amid the recent reopening of the Santa Teresa cattle crossing at the end of September. The crossing had been closed for nearly two years following the detection of New World screwworm in neighboring Mexico.
The border previously saw between 3,000 and 3,500 cattle pass through daily.
