aphis logoUSDA : Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service : Veterinary Services -- Texas Area


VS-TX tickCattle Fever Tick Eradicationtick
in the Texas Area 

This eradication program prevents the introduction of Cattle Fever Ticks into the United States from Mexico by using horseback patrol and systematic quarantine work along the Rio Grande River. VS stations are located in Texas counties along the Mexico border. These locations are Brownsville (Cameron Co.), Del Rio (Val Verde Co.), Eagle Pass (Maverick Co.), Laredo (Webb Co.), Mission (Hidalgo Co.), Rio Grande City (Starr Co.), and Zapata (Zapata Co.). The executive office of the program is in Laredo, TX.

Begun in 1907, the Cattle Fever Tick Eradication Program (CFTEP) was the first cooperative state-federal eradication effort. In 1943, the two species of Cattle Fever Ticks (CFTs), Boophilus annulatus and B. microplus, were eradicated from the U. S., with the exception of a permanent quarantine zone between Texas and Mexico. Today, this "buffer" zone extends over 500 miles from Del Rio, TX to the Gulf of Mexico and is 200 yards to 6 miles wide. Outbreaks outside of the zone are rare. Premises found to be infested with CFTs are placed under quarantine for six to nine months, depending on the time of year.

Recent Activities:   September 1 - September 30, 2006

Tick Infestations:  We presently have forty-six premises quarantined as infested.  Thirty-seven of these are in the Tick Eradication Area, and nine are in the Free Area.  All infested premises are in compliance with regulations. Seventeen premises were released from quarantine and four were added this month.
 
Mexico Apprehensions:   Five bovine and two equine were apprehended this month.  Two bovine were infested with fever ticks.  All the other animals were free of fever ticks.

Tick Samples:  Twenty-six tick samples were submitted by the Federal Tick Force inspectors for the month of September.

Court Cases:  We have a total of eight court cases pending in Starr and Webb Counties.

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OTHER VS PROGRAMS IN THE TEXAS AREA

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