On June 19, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) released the remaining portion of the fever tick temporary preventative quarantine area in Starr County.
The TAHC established a quarantine area for portions of Starr County on July 3, 2007, following findings of cattle fever tick infestations on multiple premises.
The newly released area is located in the southwest part of Starr County along Highway 83, and all movement restrictions originally placed on livestock within the quarantine area have been withdrawn.
According to TAHC, cattle fever ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting ‘Babesia,’ a blood parasite deadly to cattle. Though common in Mexico, fever ticks are not normally found in Texas.
For more information about the cattle fever tick, visit the TAHC website.