EDINBURG, Texas — Federal officials demonstrated drones in South Texas on Monday as part of an effort to detect livestock that may be infected with New World screwworm.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott attended the demonstration at Moore Air Base in Edinburg. Border Patrol personnel launched X-10 and Indigo-class drones near the airfield.
Officials said the aircraft can collect overhead images that may help teams identify livestock with visible wounds, allowing inspectors to investigate possible infections more quickly. The technology is intended to support field surveillance rather than replace laboratory confirmation.
New World screwworm larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals and can cause severe or fatal injuries when infections are not treated. Federal officials have expanded surveillance and response work along the southern border after detections in Texas and continuing cases in Mexico.
Officials said 45 cases had been reported since the parasite crossed the border in early June, including an active case in Starr County. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the pest poses a serious threat to livestock and wildlife but that the current risk to people and animals in the United States remains very low. The agency also says the outbreak is not a food-safety issue.
Animal owners are encouraged to check livestock and pets for unusual wounds, maggots or signs of infestation and immediately report suspected cases to animal-health authorities.
Sources: Drone demonstration report; USDA New World screwworm response information
