National

Second case of screwworm parasite confirmed in Texas, sources say

By Reuters Reuters

Updated June 5, 2026 8:20 PM

A cow reacts, a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that New World screwworm was detected in a Texas calf, near Crystal City, Texas, U.S., June 4, 2026. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee — A cow reacts, a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that New World screwworm was detected in a Texas calf, near Crystal City, Texas, U.S., June 4, 2026. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Kaylee Greenlee Reuters

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MEXICO CITY - A second case of the flesh-eating screwworm parasite was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Texas on Friday, according to two sources.

The case was detected on a ranch 5.6 miles (9 km) from the first positive case of screwworm in Texas, which the USDA confirmed on Wednesday, the sources said.

The agency had not yet publicly announced the second case.

(Reporting by Cassandra Garrison in Mexico City and Heather Schlitz in La Pryor, Texas; Editing by Himani Sarkar)

Cows lie in a pasture, a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that New World screwworm was detected in a Texas calf, in La Pryor, Texas, U.S. June 4, 2026. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee — Cows lie in a pasture, a day after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that New World screwworm was detected in a Texas calf, in La Pryor, Texas, U.S. June 4, 2026. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Kaylee Greenlee Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 7:55 PM.