The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (USDA-CFTEP) released the Jim Wells County Fever Tick Control Purpose Quarantine Area (CPQA) on Nov. 22, 2017.
The 51,590-acre CPQA was established by TAHC and USDA-CFTEP in July 2015 after cattle fever ticks were discovered on two calves at a South Texas livestock market. The calves originated from a premises located in Jim Wells County. An epidemiological investigation and follow-up inspection of the premises found additional cattle and wildlife to be infested with fever ticks.
The release of the Jim Wells County CPQA comes after two years of systematic treatment and inspections. The release rescinds all movement restrictions, inspections, and treatment requirements for livestock and wildlife in the area.
“Though the fever tick outbreak is gaining ground along the Texas-Mexico border, TAHC is pleased to see the successful eradication of cattle fever ticks in Jim Wells County,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC executive director. “This is a small but significant step forward in our fever tick eradication efforts.”
Today, portions of 10 South Texas counties have established fever tick quarantines outside of the permanent quarantine area totaling approximately 708,335 acres. The counties include, Cameron, Live Oak, Hidalgo, Kinney, Kleberg, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata.
To learn more about cattle fever ticks and the current outbreak, visit http://www.tahc.texas.gov/animal_health/cattle/.
Source: Texas Animal Health Commission