To help the state combat the threat of the New World screwworm, the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center will host the New Mexico New World screwworm training workshop from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 25 on New Mexico State University’s campus.
The free workshop is open to all veterinarians and technicians, Cooperative Extension Service agents and livestock producers and will be held in Wooton Hall, 3145 Knox St. The workshop will include classroom sessions, demonstrations and collaborations with Extension, New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico Livestock Board experts. Topics will include New World screwworm biology; surveillance and detection; sample collection procedures; wound treatment and management; and tools and resources for producers.
Online registration is available, and lunch will be provided.
Since 2025, the center, which is a collaboration between NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and NMDA, worked to raise awareness, increase observation and prepare for a rapid response before the first confirmed case of New World Screwworm occurred in New Mexico in June 2026 in a canine in Lea County. The canine has fully recovered, and the case is now inactive.
“In the event of a New World screwworm being found in New Mexico again, the state veterinarian would like to have the capacity to keep the livestock industry moving, and it will take New Mexico being proactive in building capacity to keep the ag industry moving by training agency personnel and producers in the methods to inspect livestock to keep the New World screwworm from spreading,” said Tom Dean, center co-director and Extension Southwest District director.
In addition to classroom instruction, the workshop will include hands-on inspection training at the NMSU bull barn, and attendees should be prepared to participate in the chute inspection.
For more information about how to protect livestock, wildlife, pets and communities from the New World screwworm, visit screwwormnm.org.