Austin, Texas—State agriculture officials confirmed today the detection of the screwworm fly, marking the first appearance of the parasite in Texas in several decades. The discovery was made during a routine inspection at a ranch in the southern part of the state. Experts fear the re-emergence could cause significant damage to the livestock industry.

The screwworm fly is a dangerous parasite that lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals. Upon hatching, the larvae feed on the living tissue of the host. Without immediate intervention, the infestation can be fatal to cattle, horses, and wildlife.

Livestock owners have been advised to inspect their animals daily for signs of infestation. The Texas Department of Agriculture is coordinating with federal counterparts to set up trapping stations across the border regions. They aim to track the origin of the parasite before it spreads further inland.

State veterinarians are currently visiting affected ranches to provide guidance on treatment and containment. They emphasized the importance of reporting any suspicious wounds immediately to local authorities. The parasite is highly adaptable and can move rapidly across large distances.

Agricultural economists warned that a full-scale outbreak would disrupt regional beef and dairy production. They are already preparing contingency plans to quarantine affected zones if the fly population increases. The last successful eradication of the species in North America was considered a historic milestone.

Industry leaders held an emergency meeting this afternoon to discuss the immediate steps for herd protection. They are urging all ranchers to remain vigilant and avoid transporting animals out of the detection zone. Movement restrictions are expected to be enforced by the end of the week.

The state is allocating additional funding for lab testing and field personnel to combat the re-infestation. Officials are also looking into the deployment of sterile fly releases to suppress the population. This method has been effective in historical eradication programs.

Scientists are currently analyzing the genetic makeup of the detected fly to see if it matches known variants from neighboring countries. The results of these tests will determine the scale of the required response. All livestock operations remain on high alert.