Texas agriculture

There is bipartisan agreement that the country is not producing nearly enough sterile flies to combat the flesh-eating parasite, which threatens to wreak havoc on Texas' livestock industry.

The USDA confirmed four new New World screwworm cases in Texas, including the first reported infestations in Crockett and Terrell counties.

Most stray animal shelters are already at capacity. Adding a deadly parasitic infestation could create an even more dire situation.

The latest confirmed infestation was found in a sheep in Sutton County, adding to concerns that the flesh-eating parasite is spreading beyond South Texas.

Experts say not to panic. These are the signs to look for to protect your fur babies.

Governor Abbott has declared a state of emergency over the New World Screwworm and its potential impact on the U.S. livestock industry, as state experts are calling on all Texans to help monitor for the flies. Meanwhile, West Texas ranchers are not panicking, taking the news as another part of an already difficult job.

State officials and researchers warned Texas lawmakers in May that New World screwworm was advancing toward the state and could carry a billion-dollar economic toll.

Federal officials say rapid reporting is critical to stopping the flesh-eating parasite from becoming established in Texas. Miller suggested some ranchers may hesitate to report cases because of quarantine restrictions.

New cases involving a calf in La Salle County and a goat in Gillespie County bring Texas' total to five confirmed detections in less than a week. Federal officials are also investigating an infested dog linked to New Mexico and Mexico.

Two more cases of the New World screwworm have been confirmed in Texas, demonstrating the difficulty of stopping the spread of a pest that potentially could devastate the nation's cattle industry.