NWS Response

You can help keep South Carolina free of NWS:

• Check livestock, pets and wildlife regularly for suspicious wounds.
• Clean and cover injuries promptly and use appropriate repellents.
• Exercise caution if you have open wounds or frequent animal contact.
• Stay informed about federal prevention efforts such as sterile-insect releases, border surveillance and emergency treatment protocols.

Moving live animals plays a major role in the spread of invasive pests like NWS. Federal law requires veterinarians to issue Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs) for interstate transport to prevent disease spread.

Animals infected with exotic diseases—including NWS—cannot be moved interstate. In response to outbreaks in Mexico, USDA has suspended imports of live cattle, horses and bison from affected areas.

The United States relies on the Sterile Insect Technique to prevent NWS spread. In this program, millions of male screwworm flies are bred, sterilized and released. When sterile males mate with wild females, no offspring result, breaking the cycle of infestation.

USDA and its partners maintain ongoing sterile-fly releases along the southern border as a protective barrier. This program is recognized as one of the most effective and environmentally safe pest control strategies in modern agriculture.