Lavaca County acknowledges governor's disaster proclamation as agencies prepare sterile-fly response
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Summary
Lavaca County commissioners acknowledged a gubernatorial proclamation about the northward spread of a new-world screwworm and heard county agricultural contact Shannon DeForest describe surveillance and planned sterile-fly releases; the court urged public questions be routed to county and state wildlife authorities.
Lavaca County commissioners voted to acknowledge Governor Greg Abbott's proclamation declaring a state of disaster related to the northward spread of a parasitic screwworm that threatens livestock.
The court's agricultural contact, Shannon DeForest, briefed commissioners on the nature of the insect, the history of eradication efforts and the planned response. DeForest said sterile flies will be distributed by aircraft and that production currently relies on a U.S.-owned facility in Panama, with additional production expected next summer. "Any warm-blooded animal" can be affected, he said, noting the parasite is "most mostly in mammals" and rare in birds.
Why it matters: Lavaca County is a major cow-calf producing county in Texas, and commissioners said they need to be informed and ready to assist livestock owners if cases appear locally. DeForest urged residents with questions to call county contacts or Texas Parks and Wildlife for guidance.
What commissioners did: Commissioner Precinct 4 moved and Commissioner Precinct 3 seconded a motion to acknowledge the governor's proclamation; the court approved it by voice vote.
Next steps and local guidance: DeForest said monitoring will continue and noted manufacturing capacity constraints for sterile flies, which the county cannot control. He told the court that the first priority is surveillance near confirmed cases and that aerial sterile-fly releases are planned to accelerate in the summer production ramp-up. County leaders asked DeForest to return with updates as the state and federal response develops.
