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Public health briefing: screwworm surveillance, treatment options presented to San Patricio County court
Summary
A Sam Houston State epidemiologist warned commissioners about a small number of recent screwworm detections in Texas and explained surveillance and sterile-insect control methods; county extension staff said traps in the local surveillance footprint have so far only caught sterile flies.
Dr. James Mobley, an epidemiology instructor at Sam Houston State University, told the San Patricio County Commissioners Court on June 22 that recent detections of new‑world screwworm in South Texas warrant vigilance but, as of the briefing, posed a limited local threat. "Currently, there's no active screwworm activity in our area, but there's a potential to affect San Patricio County," Mobley said, citing USDA confirmations in early June (Zavala County cases on June 3 and June 5) and additional detections through mid‑June.
Mobley described the organism (Cochliomyia hominivorax), its life cycle and the sterile‑insect technique used for control: sterilized male flies are released to reduce reproduction. He said 500 million released sterile flies is a program goal, but production is short of that target. Bobby McColl, introduced in public comment as working with AgriLife/Extension, told the court local traps have captured only sterile, released flies so far and that production is currently on the order of "100 to 150 million flies a week," short of the ideal target.
County and extension staff urged residents and livestock owners to report suspected infestations promptly to official lines and to consult authoritative sources. Mobley noted the FDA recently authorized an emergency use of Capstar for treatment; he recommended veterinary examination for infested animals, because topical products may not fully remove larvae. The presenters emphasized surveillance, early reporting and coordination with state and federal animal‑health authorities to limit spread.
