The USDA named Texas cattle industry leader John Bellinger as Senior Advisor for New World Screwworm Preparedness, a move aimed at strengthening efforts to protect U.S. livestock from the reemerging pest. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said this expands its response to recent New World screwworm detections in South Texas. Bellinger will help coordinate efforts to evaluate technologies and strategies designed to contain and ultimately eradicate the flesh-eating parasite. “I look forward to working with USDA and our state partners as we continue ramping up testing, detection, and release of our tools to reduce these fly populations,” Bellinger said. Bellinger serves on the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents and has extensive experience in the food safety, meat export, and cattle industries. He is a former chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation and the Southwest Meat Association. USDA officials say controlling the pest remains a top priority for protecting the nation's livestock industry.
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