Hickenlooper, Colorado Colleagues Urge USDA to Bolster Screwworm Preparedness Actions

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse wrote a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding the agency expand surveillance and response activities to prevent the spread of New World Screwworm (NWS). The increasing number of NWS cases in New Mexico and Texas is raising concerns across Western states, including Colorado. “[W]e urge the USDA to take additional swift actions to expand surveillance and response activities and resources to prevent further spread, protecting ranchers and livestock across both Colorado and the country,” wrote Hickenlooper, Bennet, and Neguse. “As you know, NWS pose a serious threat to our wildlife, farmers, and ranchers, and overarching impacts to rural economies.” It’s been nearly 60 years since the last outbreak of New World Screwworm on U.S. soil. Recent confirmed cases in states bordering Colorado have increased concerns for local farmers and ranchers. In the letter, Colorado lawmakers note that an infestation could be catastrophic for rural and ranching communities. “Protecting Colorado’s agricultural economy from New World Screwworm is intrinsically tied to our nation’s food security. Preventing the northward spread of this pest shields supply chains, maintains system stability, and ensures that our ranchers remain resilient,” wrote the lawmakers. “It must be noted that if this parasite breaches Colorado borders, the financial and operational burden of response and mitigation activities would be catastrophic to our producers and our state.” Colorado agriculture officials have already activated measures to prevent and control a potential outbreak, including coordinating the release of sterile flies. The letter from Hickenlooper, Bennet, and Neguse encourages continued cooperation between state and federal agencies. The letter can be found HERE and below: Dear Secretary Rollins, We write to express our growing concern regarding the recent New World Screwworm (NWS) outbreak in the United States. As members of the Colorado congressional delegation, we urge the USDA to take additional swift actions to expand surveillance and response activities and resources to prevent further spread, protecting ranchers and livestock across both Colorado and the country. As you know, NWS pose a serious threat to our wildlife, farmers, and ranchers, and overarching impacts to rural economies. We are concerned by the spread of cases from Texas to New Mexico, and encourage you to take strong steps to prevent further spread. Screwworm infestations can cause severe injury, illness, and even death in cattle and other livestock—causing significant economic losses for agricultural producers and disruptions to animal health. We urge the USDA to bolster surveillance activities, enhance animal inspections, ensure animal traceability, and prioritize expanding sterile fly production capabilities. Concurrently, we request collaboration with producers, veterinarians, and other stakeholders in Colorado to provide clear guidance and technical assistance on NWS prevention, detection, treatment, and reporting. Robust outreach, surveillance, and coordinated response efforts are essential to limiting the spread of infestations. We also support USDA’s continued use of sterile fly releases, coordination with the State of Colorado’s animal health officials, and assistance to Colorado and other states to enhance prevention and response efforts. Further, improving early detection can help animal recovery and help minimize potential losses for producers. Protecting Colorado’s agricultural economy from New World Screwworm is intrinsically tied to our nation’s food security. Preventing the northward spread of this pest shields supply chains, maintains system stability, and ensures that our ranchers remain resilient. It must be noted that if this parasite breaches Colorado borders, the financial and operational burden of response and mitigation activities would be catastrophic to our producers and our state. In the event of an outbreak, Colorado would need immediate and significant USDA financial assistance to execute a successful response and recovery effort. Therefore, we urgently request that USDA establish emergency cooperative agreements to ensure the necessary state financial aid. In sum, we urge the USDA to take swift action to enhance surveillance and response efforts, expand available resources, and plan for necessary state support to keep our nation and our agricultural communities safe from further infestations. Sincerely, ###