Elanco Animal Health has received emergency authorization in the United States for two livestock products intended to support prevention and treatment efforts against New World screwworm infestations.

The company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted Emergency Use Authorization for one topical powder product, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, issued a Section 18 Emergency Exemption for another product. The authorizations are designed to prepare veterinarians and livestock producers before the parasite is detected in the United States. 

New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae can infest wounds in warm-blooded animals. In livestock systems, early detection and rapid treatment are critical because infestations can cause severe tissue damage, animal welfare problems and economic losses. According to Elanco, confirmed cases had been detected as close as 62 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border, increasing the urgency of preparedness measures. 

From an animal health economics perspective, the announcement underlines how quickly emerging parasitic threats can become a business and food security issue. For cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses and other livestock species, a disease-control gap at the border can create risks for producers, veterinarians, regulators and supply chains. Emergency authorizations therefore have a wider role than product access alone; they are part of a preparedness strategy designed to reduce potential losses before an outbreak becomes established.

The authorized products will not enter routine commercial distribution. Elanco stated that they will be available only through the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and its National Veterinary Stockpile, with distribution coordinated through state animal health officials and federally recognized tribal agencies. This controlled access model reflects the sensitive nature of emergency response tools and the need for oversight in their use. 

The company also emphasized that open wounds, surgical sites and even small wounds caused by flies or ticks can create entry points for screwworm infestation. For producers, this reinforces the importance of regular animal observation, wound management and broader fly and tick control programs as part of prevention.

For the livestock health sector, the development shows how animal health companies, regulators and veterinary authorities are increasingly being asked to respond rapidly to cross-border disease threats. In this case, the focus is not only treatment, but also readiness: ensuring that veterinarians and producers have access to appropriate tools if New World screwworm enters the United States.