- Delaware has reported no New World screwworm detections, and officials say the U.S. food supply remains safe.
- USDA has confirmed 32 animal cases in Texas and New Mexico as of July 8.
- Delaware now requires an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection for warm-blooded animals entering from affected areas.
- The state has expanded outreach to veterinarians, animal shelters, and meat-processing facilities.
- Officials are distributing New World screwworm collection kits to support early detection and surveillance.
The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is continuing to monitor the spread of New World screwworm (NWS) following its detection in Texas and has implemented additional safeguards to reduce the risk of the parasite entering the state.
According to the department, there have been no confirmed cases in Delaware or elsewhere in the mid-Atlantic region, and officials emphasize there is no threat to the nation’s food supply.
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the first U.S. detection of New World screwworm on June 3. As of July 8, federal officials have confirmed 32 animal cases across Texas and New Mexico.
Enhanced Import Requirements
To reduce the risk of introducing the parasite, Delaware has updated its import requirements for warm-blooded animals arriving from affected areas. Animals must now be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) issued within 72 hours before movement into the state. Hatching eggs and table eggs are exempt from the order.
New World screwworm larvae infest living tissue, posing a significant threat to livestock, companion animals, wildlife and, in rare cases, humans and birds.
Education and Preparedness Efforts
The DDA’s Poultry and Animal Health Section has expanded outreach and preparedness activities statewide, including notifying licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians through the State Veterinary Medical Board and the Delaware Veterinary Medical Association. The department has also distributed screwworm collection kits to veterinary professionals, worked directly with the state’s largest animal shelters to review import requirements, and plans to provide additional collection kits to shelters and meat-processing facilities.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
