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USDA Tests Possible US NWS Case

Todd Neeley 6/03 5:58 PM

This article was originally posted at 5:26 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, June 3. It was last updated with additional information at 5:53 p.m., then again at 5:58 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, June. 3. Continue to watch this page for further updates.

By Todd Neeley

DTN Environmental Editor

LINCOLN, Neb. (DTN) -- USDA confirmed on Wednesday that it is testing a sample for the possible first case of New World screwworm in the U.S. in nearly 60 years, reportedly from an animal in south Texas.

USDA released the following statement on its official X account at about 2 p.m. CDT on Wednesday:

"A case of NWS may have been detected in South Texas. The sample is now at USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, for confirmatory testing.

"We will provide updates the moment results are available. We have already activated personnel on the ground and are working with local partners. What you can expect from us is transparency, candor and most important -- action."

At the time U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins held a news conference on Tuesday, the closest NWS case was identified 25 miles away in a goat in the Mexican state of Coahuila, according to USDA.

DTN Livestock Market Analyst ShayLe Stewart said the markets reacted to the news even though NWS hasn't been confirmed.

""With fears about NWS looming over the marketplace, both the live cattle and feeder cattle contracts closed lower Wednesday afternoon. The live cattle contracts closed $1 to $2 lower, while the feeder cattle contracts fell $4 to $5 lower. With news of a potential case of NWS being found in Texas, it's likely that the contracts will trade sharply lower at Thursday's open as that will be traders' first opportunity to react to the news," Stewart said.

As of Tuesday, Rollins said that, overall, 8,000 fly traps have been set at and near the U.S.-Mexico border, and 58,000 fly samples have been collected and all have been negative for NWS.