Texas Racing Commission

🪰 From a fly’s perspective, horses, barns, trailers and facilities are all connected — creating multiple opportunities for exposure to New World Screwworm.

🐴 Before you move: Check your horse.
🔎 When you arrive: Check again.
🪰 Always: Stay alert for potential signs of NWS.

Protect your equine friends from New World Screwworm by:
➡️Monitoring for signs of NWS regularly.
➡️Checking for wounds, big or small.
➡️Checking any areas where NWS may be present, including areas with particularly sensitive skin, such as the eyes, mouth, and ears.
➡️ Consulting your veterinarian with any suspicions.
For more information on how to check your horse for signs of NWS: https://www.txrc.texas.gov/newworldscrewworm

🐴Movement can increase the risk of New World Screwworm exposure.

👉As horses travel between facilities, they may encounter new environments, animal populations, and flies that can carry NWS larvae.

‼️Even small wounds can create an opportunity for NWS infestation.

🔎Learn more about movement guidelines and find resources for protecting Texas livestock at screwworm.texas.gov.

Horsemen and horse enthusiasts: Last week, the first case of New World Screwworm in a horse in the United States was confirmed in Presidio County.

Stay vigilant, inspect your animals, and report any suspicious wounds by calling the Texas Animal Health Commission immediately at 1-800-550-8242 or visit Screwworm.gov.

⭐️At the Texas Racing Commission, equine health and safety remain a top priority.

🤝We appreciate our partners at the Texas Animal Health Commission for their continued work to protect Texas horses and support a healthy, thriving equine industry.

Prevention starts with vigilance. 🐎

💭Remember when...
The TAHC adopted enhanced testing requirements for equine infectious anemia (EIA). These regulations, paired with TAHC outreach, have reduced the number of animals confirmed with this incurable disease from 750 equine in 1997 to only 18 since September 2025.

Implementing strong testing requirements, along with producer diligence, goes a long way in protecting Texas from domestic and foreign diseases.

AUSTIN, TX – The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) executive director officially released movement restrictions for areas of Texas previously deemed as New World screwworm (NWS) Infested Zones. Following months of coordinated surveillance and eradication activities, designated areas of Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, and Webb Counties were released from New World Screwworm (NWS) movement restrictions on August 31, 2026, marking a significant milestone in Texas' ongoing NWS response.

Read the full press release:https://www.tahc.texas.gov/news/2026/2026-08-31_EDO_NWSZoneReleases.pdf

☀️ Extreme heat has more variables than just temperature.

👉🏻 Yesterday at Retama Park, the WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit. WBGT is designed to measure the impact of heat stress by accounting for shade/cloud cover, humidity, wind speed, & sunlight - providing a more complete picture of the conditions horses & people are experiencing.

🔥 As Texas temperatures rise, understanding WBGT helps us make informed decisions focused on the safety & welfare of our equine athletes.

🐎As horse movement continues across Texas, it is important for owners, trainers, and industry participants to understand current animal movement guidance.

👉🏻We encourage the Texas racing community to review the latest guidance from our partners at the Texas Animal Health Commission and stay informed about the requirements that may apply to the movement of livestock and horses.

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service , is providing animal owners and producers, veterinarians, New World Screwworm (NWS) Certified Inspectors, and other stakeholders with a quick-reference resource outlining current animal movement requirements related to NWS. This platform contains content to facilitate TAHC-compliant movement of animals.
Access through the TAHC NWS page: https://bit.ly/TAHC-NWS