Kerr County Judge Signs Disaster Declaration Due to New World Screwworm

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In the face of an ongoing and significant threat of the New World Screwworm (NWS) identified in neighboring Gillespie County, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly today, June 15, signed a Kerr County Local State of Disaster Declaration, which went into effect immediately.

Kerr County Disaster Declaration and Letter to Gov. Abbott Due to New World Screwworm (PDF)

The declaration will continue for a period of 7 days, after which it will appear before the Kerr County Commissioners’ Court in its regular, open session planned Monday, June 22, for consideration of an extension.

By signing the disaster declaration, Judge Kelly has activated the county’s Emergency Management Plan, which directs the Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator and all other county officials and personnel to coordinate with all the appropriate local, state and federal agencies and stakeholders when it comes to surveillance, reporting, public information, preparedness and response operations related to the screwworm threat in the county.

Additionally, the county judge signed a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott stating that he recognizes that the presence of the screwworm in our area poses an imminent threat of widespread and severe damage, injury or loss of life or property, specifically threatening Kerr County’s wildlife and livestock industry and economy.

On Jan. 29, Gov. Abbott issued a state of disaster for all Texas counties proclaiming that the northward spread of the New World Screwworm from Central and South America toward the U.S. southern border threatens the state’s livestock industry and economy and posed an imminent threat of widespread and severe property damage.

On June 9, the Texas Animal Health Commission issued an executive director order restricting animal movements in part of Kerr County due to a case of screwworm confirmed in adjacent Gillespie County.

On Monday, June 15, there were 6 infested zones identified by TAHC in Texas.

To view a map of active infested/surveillance zones, visit the TAHC website and click on “Viewable Zone Map”: https://www.tahc.texas.gov/emergency/nws.html.

For more information about NWS, visit www.screwworm.org

REPORTING:

To report a case of maggots witnessed in an open wound on a living, warm-blooded animal, call:

  • Livestock – TAHC (Texas Animal Health Commission) – 800-550-8242.

  • Native Wildlife – TPWD (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) – 512-389-4505