What are we dealing with here?

Yeah, so New World Screwworm.

So we had New World Screwworm in the U.S. in the 40s, 50s, and finally eradicated it out of the U.S. in the 60s.

Pushed it south and pushed it south into Panama area.

So it was always below the Darien Gap.

And so we've been able to maintain that gap and keep New World Screwworm south of there.

Starting in...

What's the feeling right now? Are cattle raisers and the horse world feeling a certain sense of fear and uncertainty about New World Screwworm? Or are they fairly confident in the plans that the USDA and FDA have set into motion? And are they not as concerned? What does the climate look like down there?

Here's her impression of the sentiment among area veterinarians and livestock producers.

I think there's a variability amongst the different audiences and that we can see some people are very optimistic, some people are, uh, a little more pessimistic.

But I think if we kind of look in the, in the middle is where the truth lies, right? So we have a strong plan with USDA and Texas Animal Health Commission, and we're just going to need everybody to come to the table and everyone do their part, right? So producers are going to have to look at their animals.

They're going to have to report diseases.

Veterinarians need to be ready with their response.

And then of course, we look to USDA, Texas Animal Health Commission to help with containment and release of sterile flies.

And Dr. Koziol reminds producers there are benefits to early detection.

New World screwworm cases are highly treatable, and so we have good drugs that will help clear up the infection.

that.

So that's number one, right? Surveillance and vigilance.

If you have concerns about a wound, contact your veterinarian or your state veterinary office.

So if you're in Texas, that's going to be Texas Animal Health Commission.

If you are in any other state, contact your state veterinarian.

There's going to be numbers posted everywhere.

Or just call your veterinarian, call your extension agent.

And so I guess my questions right now for you really revolve around what do we need to be looking for if we're off the front lines? So what do we need to be looking for? What does the public need to know? And then as far as travel restrictions, are folks that are traveling into Mexico when they come back, is there any sort of safeguard in place to ensure that it's not moving back either on a person or a companion animal?