Blanco County Prepares for Screwworm Threat | San Antonio News

Blanco County in Texas just declared a local disaster—yes, even though no screwworm cases have been found yet. This preemptive move arms officials to respond instantly if the deadly New World screwworm shows up, protecting ranchers whose livelihoods depend on livestock. The parasite, a fly whose larvae feed on living animals, has 29 confirmed cases statewide, with the nearest one in Harper, just across the county line. County Judge Brett Bray says the declaration gives them the tools to support farmers, even euthanizing and disposing of infected animals if needed—using county property if necessary. While Blanco is growing, it’s still deeply rural, where animals aren’t just livestock but life itself. State and federal agencies are monitoring closely, and if a new case emerges, the area will be quarantined with movement restrictions—and sterile flies will be deployed immediately to stop the spread. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/881bf39e65fd60fe