WASHINGTON, October 17, 2025 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing the availability of the New World Screwworm (NWS) Response Playbook. The playbook outlines key approaches, resources, and tools to implement animal health response activities in the event of a U.S. detection of NWS. 

“USDA continues to execute our five-pronged plan to keep NWS out of the United States,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.  “While we continue to aggressively protect the U.S. border and are working with Mexico to stop the pest from continuing to spread further north, we also have to ensure our domestic response plans are ready to activate if needed.”

The NWS Response Playbook outlines critical response strategies for federal, state, and local responders including how to:

• Effectively manage a coordinated response and communications with stakeholders and the public
• Reduce spread to non-infested animals and prevent NWS from establishing in new areas
• Manage NWS on infested premises
• Implement NWS surveillance and management strategies in wildlife
• Implement NWS fly surveillance and management strategies
• Maintain continuity of business
• Ensure information flow and management
• Identify and maintain resource requirements 

APHIS incorporated initial input from State Animal Health Officials, industry and veterinary organizations when developing the playbook. The activities outlined in the playbook will allow a flexible, science-based approach and data-driven decisions to allow responders to plan, act, and adapt across all phases of an outbreak. 

APHIS is posting the draft playbook to the NWS Foreign Animal Disease Preparedness and Response website and will continue to gather feedback from States and Industry to help ensure operational useability and alignment with field practices. This playbook, along with the accompanying preparedness materials, is a living, dynamic document. Feedback and suggestions can be provided to FAD.PReP.Comments@usda.gov. 

What you can do

NWS maggots can infest livestock and other warm-blooded animals, including people. They most often enter an animal through an open wound and feed on the animal’s living flesh. 

APHIS urges residents on the southern border to check their pets and livestock for signs of NWS. Look for draining or enlarging wounds and signs of discomfort. Also look for screwworm larvae (maggots) and eggs in or around body openings, such as the nose, ears, and genitalia or the navel of newborn animals. If you suspect your animal is infected with screwworm, contact your state animal health official or APHIS area veterinarian immediately.

While not common in people, if you notice a suspicious lesion on your body or suspect you may have contracted screwworm, seek immediate medical attention.

Learn more about NWS on the APHIS website.