Florida Blocks Animal Imports From Six Texas Counties

April 29, 2026 – AUSTIN, Texas — Sid Miller is weighing in on new emergency animal import restrictions announced by Florida, calling the move “understandable” as concerns grow over the spread of the New World screwworm near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Florida officials issued the rule on April 24, temporarily limiting the import of warm-blooded animals from six South Texas counties deemed “high risk” due to their proximity to recent detections of the pest in Mexico. The affected counties include Zapata County, Jim Hogg County, Starr County, Hidalgo County, Webb County, and Brooks County.

In a statement, Miller acknowledged Florida’s concerns, noting the state’s history as the epicenter of the nation’s last major screwworm outbreak roughly a decade ago. “This isn’t a distant risk,” he said, pointing to the parasite’s ability to devastate livestock, wildlife, and even pets.

The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living tissue of warm-blooded animals, poses a serious threat to the agricultural economy. Texas officials say the impacts are already being felt. Ongoing restrictions on cattle imports from Mexico have disrupted supply chains, reduced meatpacking capacity, and contributed to rising prices for consumers.

Miller emphasized that current federal efforts, led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, include plans to expand sterile fly programs to suppress the pest’s spread. However, he warned that relying on a single long-term solution is not enough.

“We need every available suppression tool in play, now,” Miller said. “Our livestock, wildlife, pets, and consumers don’t have time to spare.”

Florida’s emergency rule is expected to remain in place as officials monitor the situation, highlighting growing national concern over the potential resurgence of the destructive parasite.