Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller issued a warning to livestock producers in Texas and nationwide after Mexican authorities confirmed an additional New World screwworm across the border.

According to a Thursday news release, the screwworm case was found in a seven-year-old bovine in González, Tamaulipas — 215 miles south of the Rio Grande Valley.

The infected animal had no reported history of movement outside of Tamaulipas, and represents the third active case in the state, the news release added.

“The screwworm now may be moving closer on its own, with no apparent link to commercial animal movement,” Commissioner Miller said in a statement. “Texas producers must act now — stay informed, stay vigilant, and prepare immediately. We cannot drop our guard for even a moment.”

The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly that lays eggs in the living tissue of fresh wounds in warm-blooded animals, according to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. The larvae, or maggots, feed on the host’s flesh, causing severe wounds and often death if untreated.

According to the release, Mexican officials are saying there is no evidence yet of an established screwworm population in Tamaulipas. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is working closely with Mexico’s National Service for Health, Safety and Agro-Food Quality to investigate and evaluate response measures, including the release of sterile flies to stop the spread.

In the release, Miller urged immediate action from ranchers along the Texas border.

“Inspect your animals daily. Check every open wound. If anything looks suspicious, report it right away,” Miller said. “Better a false alarm than a delayed response. Early detection and rapid reporting are our strongest defenses against this devastating pest.”