Horse Smuggling Exposes Texas to New Screwworm Risks

TEXAS–MEXICO BORDER — Illegal horse trafficking across remote stretches of the border is creating a new challenge for animal-health officials working to contain New World screwworm, a destructive parasite that has returned to the United States after decades of eradication.

A Reuters investigation published Sept. 5 found that horses moved outside legal ports of entry can bypass veterinary inspections designed to detect disease and parasites before animals enter Texas. The report described a May case near Redford, Texas, where deputies intercepted six horses that had been moved across the Rio Grande.

The intercepted horses were not found to have screwworm, according to Reuters. However, the incident highlighted a biosecurity gap: animals entering through unauthorized routes do not receive the health checks, treatment and documentation required for legal livestock imports.

New World screwworm is caused by fly larvae that infest open wounds in living animals. The pest can affect cattle, horses, pets, wildlife and, less commonly, people. It is not a food-safety issue, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture says the current risk to animals and people in the United States remains very low.

USDA confirmed the parasite in a Texas calf in June, the first domestic detection in decades. Federal and state agencies have since used animal-movement controls, surveillance traps, veterinary monitoring and releases of sterile flies to slow its spread. Texas officials modified several affected zones on Sept. 4 as the response continued.

The smuggling issue complicates those safeguards because investigators may not know where illegally transported animals originated, which routes they traveled or which other animals they encountered. Disease traceability depends on accurate records that allow officials to locate exposed livestock quickly.

Legal livestock imports from Mexico are subject to inspection and treatment protocols. USDA has also adjusted port operations as conditions change, including reopening the Douglas, Arizona, port to cattle imports on Aug. 24 under a revised inspection agreement with Mexico.

For Texas, the stakes extend beyond ranches. Livestock production supports rural employment, transportation, food processing and small businesses across the state. A wider outbreak could force additional movement restrictions and increase costs for producers already facing tighter trade and animal-health rules.

Officials are urging livestock owners and veterinarians to watch wounds closely and report suspected infestations promptly. Warning signs can include wounds that grow larger, foul-smelling discharge, visible larvae and unusual animal behavior. Owners should contact a veterinarian rather than attempt to diagnose the parasite themselves.

The federal government says surveillance and control efforts remain active and that the U.S. food supply is safe. The latest findings nevertheless show why unauthorized animal movement is more than a border-enforcement issue: it can also undermine the health protections intended to shield Texas livestock, wildlife and communities.

Sources: Reuters, Sept. 5, 2026; USDA APHIS screwworm response; USDA current status.

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