Kerr County judge declares local disaster over New World screwworm threat

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly signed a local state of disaster declaration Monday in response to the threat posed by the New World screwworm, which has been identified in neighboring Gillespie County.

The declaration took effect immediately and will remain in place for seven days, after which it will go before the Kerr County Commissioners Court at its regular open meeting Monday, June 22, for consideration of an extension.

Signing the declaration activates the county’s emergency management plan, directing the county’s emergency management coordinator and other officials to coordinate with local, state and federal agencies on surveillance, reporting, public information, preparedness and response related to the screwworm.

Kelly also signed a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott stating that the pest poses an imminent threat to Kerr County’s wildlife and its livestock industry and economy.

The county’s action follows a series of state moves. On Jan. 29, Abbott issued a state of disaster for all Texas counties, warning that the screwworm’s northward spread from Central and South America toward the U.S. southern border threatened the state’s livestock industry. On June 9, the Texas Animal Health Commission issued an order restricting animal movement in part of Kerr County after the case was confirmed in adjacent Gillespie County. As of Monday, the commission had identified six infested zones statewide.

Residents can view a map of active infested and surveillance zones on the Texas Animal Health Commission website and find more information at screwworm.org.

Suspected cases — maggots in an open wound on a living, warm-blooded animal — should be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission at 800-550-8242 for livestock or to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at 512-389-4505 for native wildlife.