Note to Press: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Responds to USDA Report of New World Screwworm Detection

TO: Members of the Press
RE: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Responds to USDA Report of New World Screwworm Detection

Any report that claims a Florida horse has New World Screwworm (NWS) is absolutely false. Screwworm larvae were detected on an imported horse from Argentina going through the routine and required exam at an approved United States Department of Agriculture import facility in South Florida. There has been no detection of screwworm outside of the quarantine facility. The affected horse was treated, and in an abundance of caution, all cohort horses at the facility were also examined and treated.

The detection is evidence that the USDA's import inspection and quarantine protocols are effective and an important line of defense in keeping screwworm from entering the U.S.

Dr. Michael Short, State Veterinarian, said, "There is no detection of New World Screwworm in any Florida animal. The detection at the USDA import facility was handled professionally and per existing protocols to ensure the U.S. remains free of this devastating pest. Due to the ongoing screwworm outbreak in Central America, I encourage all Floridians to remain vigilant and report any unusual maggot cases in a live animal."

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said, "We are vigilant and proactive in the state of Florida. Agriculture is a critical industry that employs more than two million Floridians and is the second-largest driver of our state's economy. I would encourage people to focus on the facts and look beyond misleading headlines and social media posts."

Background information:

Last week, the USDA announced a shift in sterile fly dispersal efforts, creating a new dispersal area that includes operations about 50 miles into Texas, along the U.S. border with the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

In this announcement, the USDA also highlighted the effectiveness of the USDA's import requirements and protocols, which add another line of defense for NWS and other foreign animal diseases that threaten U.S. livestock.

As an example of these long-standing import protocols working as designed, they highlighted an instance last week where a horse from Argentina was presented for routine importation at an equine import quarantine facility in Florida. Upon examination, APHIS identified an open wound with larvae on the animal and promptly collected and shipped samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Iowa. The horse was immediately treated with medication to kill any larvae in accordance with standard, long-standing import protocols. NVSL confirmed that the larvae were New World screwworm larvae. Accordingly, the animal will remain in quarantine until it has been reexamined and determined to be free of NWS.

While this specific situation does not appear to be associated with the NWS outbreak in Mexico that USDA is currently fighting, it underscores the need for vigilance in all of USDA's coordinated efforts to fight NWS, and Florida is proud to support and work closely with the USDA and other partners to protect our country's animal and public health.

Floridians can visit fdacs.gov/nws for the latest information

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