Florida Tries to Block Rescue Pets from New Mexico and Texas as Screwworm Spreads

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Pets has barred pets rescued from shelters in Texas and New Mexico in a beefed-up effort to stop the spread of the New World Screwworm pest that infests livestock.

“We will respond based on facts, not fear. But we will also continue to be the most aggressive state in the nation when it comes to protecting our livestock, pets, wildlife, people, and agricultural economy from this threat,” Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said in a statement last week.

The emergency rule, seen here, expands restrictions on animal imports from affected areas, prohibits the importation of rescue and shelter dogs and cats from states with confirmed screwworm detections, and revises the definition of infested zones to any county with a confirmed screwworm detection and its surrounding counties, the statement noted.

Violators will be subject to fines, but Simpson did not say how the ban will be enforced or if vehicles entering Florida will be subject to search.

Cattle producers and agriculture officials have grown increasingly concerned about the parasite, which eats the flesh of the host animal, opening wounds and increasing the risk of deadly bacterial infections. Animals can die within a few weeks if not treated.

The screwworm is actually a fly larva that eats living flesh instead of dead material. The flies lay their eggs in open wounds of animals like cattle, but wildlife, pets and, occasionally, even humans can be infested, the Associated Press has reported. Screwworm gets its name from the maggots’ habit of burrowing — or screwing — into a wound, according to the USDA.

So far, at least seven confirmed cases have been found, including three calves and a goat in Texas, and a dog from neighboring New Mexico.

Florida ranks 13th in the nation for cattle numbers, with 15,000 beef producers around the state, the Florida Beef Council reports. A fast-spreading parasite could threaten ranchers’ livelihoods and result in many livestock insurance claims.

The Florida emergency rule:

• Prohibits rescue dogs, rescue cats, shelter dogs and shelter cats originating from states with confirmed screwworm detections, until further notice.
• Notes that all other warm-blooded animals originating from a high-risk area and entering Florida must be accompanied by an official certificate of veterinary inspection (OCVI), valid for five days from the date of inspection, documenting that all animals listed have been inspected and found free of contagious and infectious diseases and pests, including screwworm.
• Creates penalties: Animals found to have unlawfully entered the state from a high-risk county, an infested state, or an infested zone without complying with the requirements of the rule will be quarantined and responsible parties will be subject to an administrative fine of up to $500 per animal, up to a maximum of $10,000 per load.

Related: Screwworm Parasite Spreads Beyond Texas

Texas Governor Vows Sped Up Construction of Screwworm Fly Breeding Facility