USDA lifts restrictions on New Mexico New World screwworm zone

(KVIA) -- Sunday, New Mexico's New World screwworm infested zone lifted, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

Lifting an infested zone removes NWS-related requirements on the domestic movement of livestock and pets in the area, the USDA said. Without the infested zone, animal producers and owners can resume movement without NWS inspection.

On June 7, New Mexico detected its first and only case of NWS in a dog in Lea County. APHIS and state officials quickly established an infested zone and carried out animal inspections and sterile NWS fly releases. No other cases have been detected since then, the USDA said.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) approved the infested zone release under New Mexico's state veterinarian and livestock board's recommendations.

New Mexico agriculture officials will continue working with APHIS to monitor any NWS risk, the USDA said.

According to the USDA, there have been 47 NWS animal cases. Only two are active as of Monday. Those active cases are in a goat and a sheep in Val Verde County, Texas.