With a New World screwworm outbreak festering in west and south Texas, Burnet County has declared a local state of disaster just in case the flesh-eating bug makes its way deeper into the Hill Country. 

Burnet County Judge Bryan Wilson declared a local state of disaster regarding the threat of the  New World screwworm on Tuesday, July 7, during a special meeting of the County Commissioners Court. He was backed up by his fellow court members, who all voted unanimously to impose the declaration for a duration of 90 days. 

New World screwworms are a dangerous maggot that can severely injure or kill warm-blooded animals. The New World screwworm fly lays its eggs on the open wound of an animal, and the eggs hatch into the screwworm, which feeds on the living flesh of its host, causing tissue damage, infection, and potentially death if left untreated. 

Graphic images: See New World screwworm infection images from the United States Department of Agriculture at this link- New World Screwworm photo gallery.  

The screwworm has not yet been detected in Burnet County. The closest case, as of July 8, was in Gillespie County. There have been 31 total cases in Texas since the outbreak was first detected on June 3. The cases have been reported in 12 counties total, but the estimated infection zones and surveillance zones established around them put much of west and south Texas on high alert.

According to the judge, the declaration was done as a precaution, just in case the screwworm outbreak reached Burnet County, and local resources had to be used to combat it. 

“This is a preemptive declaration, we’re not saying screwworms are here,” Wilson said prior to his declaration on Tuesday. “We’re not seeing a big growth in (screwworm) cases, but I want to make sure, if the sheriff is called upon by federal or state authorities, if it results in overtime or some other aspect, or god forbid that we have to set up road blocks or something, that we have the ability to get reimbursements for those federal expenses.”

Wilson was referring to the possibility that the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, or other local resources and personnel, may be enlisted by state or federal agencies to help mitigate the spread of screwworm in the area, as is taking place in other counties combating the pest. 

“This disaster declaration would allow us to qualify for reimbursements through federal funding down the road,” the judge explained. 

The declaration does not mean restrictions for Burnet County residents, but residents, especially those with livestock, wildlife, or outdoor pets on their properties, are cautioned to keep an eye on their animals.

“Burnet County is vulnerable to significant harm to livestock, agriculture, wildlife

resources, related business activity, and property interests if the threat of New World screwworm materializes within the County,” reads the declaration. “New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) is a destructive parasitic pest whose larvae infest living warm-blooded animals and can cause severe injury, death, and substantial losses to livestock, wildlife, companion animals, agricultural operations, and related commerce.”

Nearby Llano County made its own disaster declaration on June 22. 

The pest wrecked havoc on the Texas livestock industry for decades before being effectively eradicated in the United States by the 1980s.  In 1976 alone, the Texas economy lost about $329.59 million due to livestock deaths from a New World screwworm outbreak. Accounting for inflation, that would have been $1.8 billion in 2024. About 1.48 million cattle were reportedly infected in that outbreak.  

dakota@thepicayune.com