Palo Alto College Students Lead Screwworm Prevention Efforts in San Antonio

July 14, 2026

Marketing & Strategic Communications

As the region faces a significant New World Screwworm outbreak that began in early June in Zavala County, Texas, Palo Alto College students are stepping up to protect the city’s livestock and wildlife through programming that teaches awareness, prevention, and treatment.

The New World Screwworm (NWS) is a parasitic fly native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. The NWS is attracted to the scents of open wounds or mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals, where they will lay their eggs. Once hatched, the maggots use their ringed body with rows of tiny spikes that earn the NWS its name to burrow into and feed upon the living flesh of its host. While highly treatable when caught early, the NWS may cause damage or infections that could be fatal if left untreated. After a week, the larvae will drop to the ground, burrow into the soil, and pupate. Depending on weather conditions, the NWS will emerge several days to months later as a fly, and sexually mature within 1-3 days. A mature female NWS fly will lay up to 3,000 eggs in her 10-30 day life span. (USDA)

As of July 13, 2026, 35 cases of screwworm infestations have been confirmed in Texas, raising concerns among ranchers and producers in the region. Texas A&M Agrilife, the Texas Animal Health Commission, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have all increased research, monitoring, and reporting of the infestations to local ranchers and producers. However, a highly vulnerable population in the livestock industry has been largely left in the dark, the new generation of agriculturalists emerging nationwide from programs such as Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H.

Texas 4-H and FFA are youth development programs where kids and teens prepare for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture. Texas 4-H is the largest 4-H in the nation, with over 550,000 members annually. Texas FFA has over 181,400 members enrolled. Many of these youth learn to raise livestock and compete in Livestock Shows and Rodeos across the state. If left with limited knowledge and resources about the ongoing infestations, these students may be putting themselves or their animals at risk, and even inadvertently help to spread the NSW infestation.

Recognizing the need for awareness and prevention in the Bexar County community, the Palo Alto College Agriculture program developed a curriculum, in collaboration with the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, to be taught in high schools across the county by PAC Agriculture Students. The curriculum emphasizes prevention, detection, and treatment protocol for the New World Screw worm. An infestation notoriously difficult to identify, as many symptoms can resemble other ailments or injuries common in livestock.

“A lot of the students and parents who get involved in these 4-H programs, they’re raising an animal for the first time, so they don’t know what to look for,” shares Lead Instructor, Ty Chumbley. “We are working to educate our younger Ag students, and we hope that by doing this, we can really eradicate (New World Screwworm) from the region and end the threat to our school barns, livestock shows, wildlife, and food.”

As the Fall 2026 academic semester begins, Palo Alto College Agriculture program student ambassadors will travel to each of the Bexar County high schools and teach the best strategies for infestation prevention, key tools for the identification of the NWS fly and larvae, as well as best treatment practices for any livestock that may become infested.

“Thankfully, (NSW) is very easy to treat,” shares Chumbley. “It’s really just about knowing how to identify the signs and symptoms before it becomes life-threatening.”

This opportunity connects students across the county and equips them with the tools they need to fight this real-world challenge, backed by research-based information.

"I want the community to know that we are always working on outreach and educating the youth," said Chumbley. "If anyone has questions, we are here to help"

Through partnerships with organizations such as the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and hands-on learning opportunities for students, Palo Alto College is helping to prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders while strengthening the future of agriculture across South Texas.

To learn more about the Palo Alto College Agriculture program or the New World Screwworm prevention initiative, please contact Ty Chumbley at TChumbly@alamo.edu or visit alamo.edu/pac/agriculture.