The New World screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite capable of killing livestock within days, has spread beyond Texas to additional U.S. states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed on Monday. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins held a public briefing to address the growing outbreak, announcing aggressive containment efforts as officials work to prevent the parasite from establishing a foothold in American livestock populations.

The screwworm, scientifically known as Cochliomyia hominivorax, lays eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded animals. The larvae then burrow into living tissue, causing severe injury or death if untreated. The parasite was eradicated from the United States in 1966 through a decades-long sterile fly release program, and its reappearance has alarmed agricultural officials and cattle industry representatives.

The Trump administration characterized the federal response as a full-scale campaign to contain the spread, with officials coordinating across state and federal agencies. The USDA confirmed it is deploying sterile fly releases and enhanced surveillance measures as the primary tools to combat the infestation, mirroring the strategy that eliminated the parasite more than five decades ago.

The outbreak carries significant economic stakes for American ranchers and the broader beef supply chain. Texas, which has the largest cattle herd in the nation, was the initial site of confirmed cases, but the spread to neighboring states has raised concerns about the scope of the threat. The cattle industry has pressed federal officials for a swift and coordinated response to prevent wider damage.

Tensions emerged over the pace and seriousness of the initial response. CNBC reported that Rollins took aim at a Texas agricultural official she characterized as insufficiently alarmed by the threat, underscoring the urgency federal authorities are placing on the containment effort. Officials have not yet disclosed which additional states beyond Texas have confirmed cases.